Beauty Amidst the Clouds - Martin Wiles

The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:17 NLT

At first glance, it appeared we’d see nothing.

Balsam Mountain Road. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and about halfway between Maggie Valley and Cherokee, North Carolina. A road rising to just over 5300 feet in elevation. An asphalt road that ends in a loop, but a gravel road that continues another 20 miles to Cherokee. A road that hosts a primitive campground at the end. This was our destination.

As my wife and I turned off the Blue Ridge Parkway and began our ascent, clouds thickened. Passing an old Masonic historical marker, we noticed several elk grazing on the green grass. We stopped to take pictures of animals who didn’t seem to mind if we approached them.

The clouds intensified. By the time we reached the campground, seeing the campers and the layout of the campground was difficult. Campers mulled about, finishing up breakfast and packing their belongings. We saw only their silhouettes.

Leaving the campground, we trekked down the gravel road toward Cherokee. The clouds remained, but amidst them we observed beauty. Although late in June, a number of wildflower species still bloomed. Numerous waterfalls flowed over stillborn rocks. Birds sang their melodies.

King Aram was angry at Elisha the prophet. Every time the king made plans to attack Israel, God revealed to Elisha the plan so he could tell the king of Israel. The king of Aram sent a great army to surround the city where Elisha lived. When Elisha’s servant saw them, he cried out in fear. Elisha calmed him and asked God to show the servant the beauty amidst the clouds. He did. A hillside filled with chariots of fire. No need to worry.

God is sovereign and always works behind our cloudy skies. We may never know completely what God is up to. He normally only gives us snippets of what He’s doing, but we can be sure He is always up to something.

One thing God continually works on is His image in us. He busily forms us into the image of Christ, working to make us more like Him. This requires change. What He asks of us is that we trust Him, submit to Him, and obey Him. When we do, the clouds eventually burn away and we experience the full beauty of His creation.

Trust God that behind the clouds lies a beauty such as you’ve never witnessed.

Prayer: Father, we believe You have our best at heart and are working to complete it in our lives.

Tweetable: Are you missing the beauty around you? 

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