It was rainy this morning so the walk Remi and I usually go on was delayed until afternoon. When the skies cleared up around midmorning, the weather has been an absolute dream. I’m talking sunny skies and 72 degrees. Just ideal for enjoying some time outside. This might be one of the nicest summer days we have had this whole summer.

And to think it started out so poorly. A gentle mist turned into falling rain real quick this morning causing me to fear being stuck inside all day. Not to mention poor Remi was not her playful self. I wasn’t at my best either with a lousy night of sleep and a long to-do list in my head. By 9 a.m., I was ready to call a quits to this whole day.

But then Remi took a nap, and I got some stuff done and the clouds parted and the sun came out.

That is just how God works. When we have hit our limit and we are ready to wave our white flag in surrender to the things weighing us down, He lets the sun shine down. He allows the refreshing breeze to glide through our hair and remind us He is holding us.

Just when it feels like you are going to sink beneath the waves, He holds out his hand with a smile.

The most victorious stories begin with pain don’t they? There are countless triumphs in the Bible that began as chaotic, rainy mornings. Well maybe not rainy mornings, but you know what I mean.

In John chapter 9, there is a man who was born blind. Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus who sinned that caused the man’s blindness.

“‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered. ‘This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.'” John 9:3 (CSB).

Then Jesus made mud with his spit and spread it on the mans eyes to heal him.

This man had a disability from birth all to bring glory to God’s name. I think about how He must have felt when He was healed and saw how the Lord worked through him. I imagine he was at the end of his rope when Jesus came along. Probably slumped down in shame wondering where it all went wrong. Ready to give up.

But here comes this kind, compassionate, and loving man. The clouds have parted and the sun shining. He might not have ever known the kindness of the Lord if it wasn’t for being born blind. A relationship with the healer would have never happened if the man didn’t need healing.

Sometimes that bad things in life shed more light on the goodness of God. Sometimes the mornings that do not go as planned bring clear skies and perfect weather in the afternoon. God uses the chaos to bring our focus back on Him.