Power

So, I'm sitting here watching what I believe is the most intense thunder storm I have ever seen in my life. It started at about 8:00, and it is 10:30 now. At first, I was simply loving it. It was an amazing sight: clouds lit up pink by the sunset, with lightning all over and sunlight still on the horizon. And the thunder sounded so amazing. But then it started getting closer, and more severe. And now I can honestly say I have never seen a storm like this. There is a severe thunderstorm warning, a flood warning, and a tornado warning all happening at the same time. It's honestly somewhat scary. But yet, it's so beautiful. I am enjoying watching it, despite my fear.

I think, in some ways, this storm is like God. I mean, it is beautiful and amazing, but it is also extremely dangerous. Sometimes I think I lose sight of a part of who God is. The Bible says that his voice is like thunder. Psalm 29:3 says, "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters."

And with only his voice, he could make the thunder be still.

This storm is powerful, and dangerous, but it's beutiful because of that. Without the element of power and danger, it would be no more awesome than a pretty light show on my computer screen saver. I think that's similar to how God is. He is good and loving. But he is also awesome and powerful and dangerous. I find it very easy to look at God as the loving father figure or as my friend and savior. But I don't think I really understand what it is to fear God. I think that when I just look at his loving and nice side, I miss seeing the whole picture of God. Just like this storm wouldn't be as awsome if it wasn't dangerous, we miss part of the amazing picture of who God is when we only look at the "happy" side of him (or at any side without the others).

This makes me wonder... how much of God do I really understand and see? How much am I still missing? I mean, I know I don't understand a whole lot. But I live as though I understand him very well. I do things assuming I know what he wants and without asking. I get bored with reading his word because I already read it. I don't want to spend time with him, because I already did that, and he already told me what he wants to tell me. But I have to wonder: if I can so easily miss something as big as his power and danger, how much more am I missing?