“And if you’ll look at the weather map…”

As the old saying goes, if you don’t like the weather in Missouri, just give it five minutes and it’ll change.  Of a certainty, the weather is not certain. 

Well, duh.  Living right on the edge of Dorothy and Toto territory, meteorological displays of fury can blow up without much warning, although the science has certainly improved through the years, thankfully, since wind is cause for both fascination and fear in this part of the USA.

Visiting family in Oklahoma one year, I was impressed with the state-of-the-art tornado tracking system during one particular storm.  (Why is it that the place on the globe with the most twisters also has some of the worst dirt for basements??  Few homes have them in that area!)  So we sat in the living room, somewhat intently watching the radar as it revealed—street by city street!—the path of the oncoming destruction.  With the convenience of a timetable even!  I mean, really, why take cover in a cramped closet if you have a good 15-minutes to sit in your E-Z Boy, right?  At least, that would be Bob’s reaction. 

(Sigh.)  Never mind the fact that it could “twist” into a different direction without much ado.  No, weather is not a certain thing. 

I am encouraged, however, that God is.  Certain, I mean.  Dependable.  Trustworthy.  Not controllable, by any means, and definitely not always predictable, but reliable, and to a sufficient extent, knowable.  

 “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.”

 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

 And one of my all-time standbys:

 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

 To say that out days are uncertain is a laughable understatement.  The best plans, the most astute investments, even the most devious “hedging of bets” cannot control the tornado known as life.  And knowing that, it makes no sense to sit back in our spiritual lounge chair with a wetted finger in the air thinking we know which way the wind is blowing.  We’ll take cover when it’s time.

 Hardly. 

 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

That’s for certain.

 Matthew 6:30; Acts 2:36; Philippians 1:6; Psalm 91:1  Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.