Clear Up Those Cloudy Days!

 

Life sometimes feels like it’s wrapped in a blanket of clouds, obscuring the sunlight and making everything seem unclear. The storm clouds can gather slowly or hit you without warning. There are moments when the sky grows so dark that it feels like the world is closing in. The absence of light is overwhelming, and with each step forward, uncertainty deepens. The days stretch on and seem endless, heavy with doubt. You might even wonder if the storm will ever end, if the clouds will ever break. It feels as though the sun will never shine again, and in those moments, you might wonder if God has forgotten you, leaving you to wander in the dark.

But here’s the truth: even in the midst of those cloudy days, God’s presence is real. He’s not absent, nor is He unaware of your struggles. In fact, it’s in those moments that God is at work in ways we don’t always see or understand. It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass before we believe that God is good; sometimes, it’s in the midst of the clouds that He reveals His most powerful, reassuring promises.

Take a moment to reflect on the Israelites, who wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. They had witnessed God's mighty acts—most notably, the parting of the Red Sea, which led them out of slavery in Egypt. They had seen His power displayed in unmistakable ways. Yet, as they journeyed through the barren desert, there was no obvious path forward. They found themselves surrounded by lifeless terrain, with no clear destination in sight. It was easy for them to become disoriented, questioning God's plan for them.

But God had not forgotten them. In fact, He was with them in ways they could not fully grasp at the time. He led them with a cloud by day and fire by night. While this cloud might have felt like a barrier to the sun, it was never a symbol of abandonment. It was a sign of God's guiding presence. The Israelites weren’t wandering aimlessly through the wilderness; they were being led by a tangible manifestation of God's guidance. In the midst of their confusion, God’s presence was guiding them, step by step, even if they couldn’t see the destination. The cloud wasn’t an obstacle; it was God’s way of ensuring they knew He was with them.

God’s presence, even in the cloudy times, is never a sign of distance. In fact, the cloud that led them also protected them from the heat of the desert sun. What seemed like an obstruction was, in reality, a divine shield. Just as God had led them through the wilderness, He leads us through the foggy, uncertain seasons of our lives. In those moments when we feel lost, unsure of which way to go, or overwhelmed by doubt, we can take comfort in knowing that the cloud is not a sign of God’s absence, but of His protective and guiding presence.

There are times when we, too, feel overwhelmed by the storm, like the disciples in the boat with Jesus. The storm raged, and the winds howled. The boat filled with water, and the disciples feared for their lives. In their panic, they turned to Jesus, who was sleeping peacefully through it all. They cried out to Him in desperation, asking, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). Their question echoed the cries of our own hearts during times of trial: Does God see what’s happening? Does He care about the storm I’m in?

But Jesus didn’t rebuke them. Instead, He calmed the storm with a single command: “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). In that moment, the winds ceased, and the water became still. The disciples were in awe, not just because the storm had calmed, but because they saw a deeper truth: Jesus wasn’t just with them in the storm—He was greater than the storm. The disciples asked, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). In the storm, they discovered that the One who guided them, the One who had called them to follow Him, was not only present with them, but also sovereign over the storm. Jesus' presence brought peace even when the storm raged around them.

In our own lives, the storms may not calm immediately. The winds may continue to howl, and the clouds may linger longer than we wish. Yet, even in those moments, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus, like the cloud of God’s presence over the Israelites, is leading us through the storm. The clouds do not mean God is absent; they are often the very vehicle through which He reveals Himself more deeply to us.

There’s something about the storm that brings clarity. It’s in those moments of uncertainty, when we feel like we’re drowning, that God reveals a deeper truth about Himself. The storm isn’t the end; it’s the place where His presence and power are most clearly revealed. The clouds, in fact, may obscure the light temporarily, but they are also what allow us to see the light more clearly once they break. In the midst of the clouds, God is doing something profound. Just like the disciples learned in the storm, we discover that the God who guides us through life is greater than the challenges we face. He is with us, and He is leading us to a place of peace and hope.

Consider this: Jesus’ presence in the storm was not just about calming the weather; it was about teaching His disciples to trust Him more deeply. It’s in the trials, the moments of hardship, that our faith is refined and strengthened. We may not always understand why we are in the storm, but we can know that God is using it to shape us, to make us more resilient, and to draw us closer to Him. God’s love for us doesn’t waver because of the storm. In fact, His love often shines the brightest in those cloudy days, because it is in those moments that we see most clearly how much we need Him.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28 that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even in the clouds, even in the storm, God is at work. The clouds may obscure our vision, but they don’t block God’s goodness. In fact, they often help us to see it more clearly. The storm may shake us, but it also reveals the depth of God’s faithfulness, His ability to carry us through, and His plan to bring us to a place of peace.

And here’s the hope we can cling to: The storm will not last forever. The clouds may hang heavy for a time, but they will eventually break. The sun will shine again, and we will look back on the storm with new eyes. As the psalmist says in Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” The storm may feel endless, but it is just a season, a temporary moment in the grand story of God’s faithfulness.

When the clouds finally part, when the storm passes and the light shines through again, we will see things with clarity and understanding. We will understand why God allowed us to walk through the clouds, and we will see that He was with us every step of the way. The storm will not define us. It is God’s presence that will define us—His guidance, His protection, His love. The storm may be where we are now, but it is not where we will stay. We are being led to a place of peace, a place of purpose, and a place where the light shines brighter than we could have imagined.

In the end, the cloudy days are not about the absence of light—they are about trusting that God is leading us, even when we can’t see the road ahead. The clouds don’t hide His presence; they highlight it. And just as the Israelites followed the cloud in the wilderness, we too are being guided through life’s storms by the same God who never leaves us. Even when the sky is dark, we can trust that He is leading us to something greater, something more glorious. The clouds will break, the storm will pass, and the sun will shine again.

And in that moment, we’ll not only see the beauty of the sunlight, but we will recognize the God who walked with us through the storm, shaping us and drawing us closer to Himself in ways we could never have imagined.

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025