Dear Subscribers and Readers,
I wrote this post back in May. It was a favorite and portrays a real-life situation (albeit small compared to some) that my wife and I experienced while visiting with family near Albuquerque, NM. I am republishing here for the many new subscribers that have come on board since that time.
Earlier this week, I wrote God Was There, a short story about my wife and I getting caught out in the open by a sudden severe storm while hiking on a high desert trail in New Mexico.
This is a more detailed narrative of that experience …
Even in the midst of a storm, there is much to be thankful for.
The day had started off perfectly. Sunny and warm, but not hot. A slight breeze continued to refresh us.
Way out, to the Southwest, the tip of a small white cloud barely peeked above a distant ridgeline.
Not being familiar with desert weather, we didn’t give it much thought.
We should have.
Our goal was the El Cerro de Los Lunas peak that overlooked the small town of Los Lunas and the Rio Grande Valley about 20 miles South of Albuquerque.
The trail was a 5.5-mile loop considered to be moderately difficult.
Roughly halfway up on a long ridgeline, there was a small rectangular shelter with a picnic table and a slatted roof.
We hiked around one and a half miles beyond that point up a long and steep sandy ascent akin to climbing a tall sand dune.
This section of the trail stopped just below the base of a long cragged wall on which dozens of Ravens made their home.
I immediately thought of the story of God commanding the ravens to bring food to Elijah. (ref. 1 Kings 17:4)
Elijah was one of Israel’s greatest prophets, yet even he felt abandoned, alone, and vulnerable much of the time.
At one point he cried out that he was the only one left who had not bowed down to Baal.
God had to continue to coddle him.
James 5:17 describes Elijah as “a man subject to like passions as we are …”.
As close as he was to God, he still doubted, fretted, and was afraid. And yet, God did not abandon him.
With the ravens bringing him food, the necessities for life were provided to him, proving that God’s faithfulness to us does not always depend on our faithfulness to Him.
Reading Hebrews chapter 11, I can’t help but be ashamed of my small faith.
Known as the Hall of Faith, this chapter details many prominent Biblical figures, but also references hundreds of unnamed individuals over centuries of time whose faith never wavered, even when horribly persecuted and tortured to death.
They did not give up hope, even when they had not yet “received the promise” (of the coming Messiah). (vs. 39).
Vs. 38 says that “the world was not worthy of them.”
Exhausted from the climb, we sat down, clinging to the only shade we could find beneath a gnarled desert Juniper.
In the distance, however, a bank of dark clouds was rapidly heading our way. It didn’t look good.
As we watched it approach, we tried to calculate how long we had before the storm would be upon us.
The wind had picked up significantly. There was no place to hide.
Could we make the shelter? And, how much would the shelter protect us?
Going down was much quicker than the ascent, but it wasn’t fast enough.
The rain started when we were still a half mile out from the shelter. A few drops at first. Then heavy, pelting rain, driven sideways by strong winds. Lightning flashed. Thunder roared.
By the time we made the shelter, we were soaked to the bone. The wind had dropped the temperature at least 20 degrees. In hiking shorts and tee shirts, we were not dressed for this.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Ps 46:1
Cold and wet, we hunkered down as best we could, not knowing for how long.
Then the hail came.
The slatted roof did nothing to prevent the rain or the hail. Why was it even referred to as a shelter?
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. - Ps 91:2
Using my backpack, we covered ourselves as much as we could.
We waited.
We prayed.
Pleaded, actually -
“God, it’s cold you know. The hail hurts. We’re scared that we might be hit by lightning. Lord, please. Let it pass quickly.”
At that moment I thought of Jesus and his disciples caught out in the middle of the Sea of Galilee when a storm suddenly appeared.
At that thought, I burst out laughing as we huddled there, unsuccessfully trying to shield us from the hail.
Not just a chuckle, but a belly laugh.
Of course, my wife thought I had completely lost my marbles.
The boat they were in began taking on water faster than they could bail.
Exhausted, Jesus slept through it all.
The disciples were probably looking at him wide-eyed.
They could probably be heard saying, “Can you believe this guy? We’re about to sink and he’s sleeping.”
“Master”, they cried out, “save us. We Perish”.
He opened His eyes and looked at them. “Oh, ye of little faith”, he said. Then He stilled the wind with His words alone, “Peace, be still”.
And suddenly the sea was calm.
Contrast that situation with those Old Testament believers whose faith never waivered, even to their deaths.
I laughed because there was no question that I stood with the “little faith” crowd. And suddenly it seemed silly.
Our discomforting, yet short situation, was nothing in comparison to either of these and here I was acting as if the world was going to end.
I didn’t just have “little faith”. At that moment, I had no faith at all.
In reality, what seemed like hours was only minutes.
The Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians,
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” - 2 Corinthians 4:17
Comparatively speaking, our brief experience did not register. Not even on the “light affliction” scale.
As fast as the storm had come upon us, it was gone.
Soon the sun was back out. Thanks to the dry desert air and breeze, we were quickly comfortable. By the time we reached the trailhead, there was no evidence of the passing storm.
Why many followers of Christ experience severe persecution, others endure heartbreak after heartbreak, and yet others seem to go through life with not much adversity at all, I do not know.
What I do know, however, is what Paul told the Philippian Christians that no matter what circumstances we experience we should learn to be content. (ref. Philippians 4:11)
Let us put away the foolishness of our discontentment with the little things in life and learn to give thanks in all circumstances.
After all, He did promise never to leave us nor forsake us.
Elijah found that out when God commanded the ravens …
"With the ravens bringing him food, the necessities for life were provided to him, proving that God’s faithfulness to us does not depend on our faithfulness to Him."
Love this sentence. Great story Cork. Thanks for the reminder this morning!
An inspiring story. Helps me in my climb out of my personal doldrums. Thanks!