Thunderstorms. What comes to your mind when you hear that word? Is it a feeling such as fear or dread? Disappointment because a storm may cancel your plans? Maybe the word thunderstorm recalls a feeling of happiness and comfort as it does for me. My memories of thunderstorms are sitting in my mom’s or dad’s lap in our garage enjoying the summer rainfall and thunder.

California has far fewer thunderstorms than the northeast. When I did hear thunder, I found it to be wimpy. The Midwest took it up a notch, yet it was not until I moved to the southeast that I really understood how powerful thunder can feel.

As a child, my mom would tell me thunder was the sound of bowling balls rolling down the lane as family members who had passed away bowled together in heaven. An unusually loud and sharp clap occurred when someone threw a strike. While the sound of the thunder still brings back warm and comforting memories, the power of the thunder I hear now, reminds me of God’s power – in our lives and over our lives.

I can only imagine the healthy fear and respect animals have when they hear the roar of a lion or the growl of a bear. The thunder I hear reminds me of the healthy fear and respect my God deserves. He created our universe. He took an old man and a barren woman and gave them offspring. He parted the Red Sea and gave victory to a group of 300 men over the Midians. He made a shepherd boy king, and he sacrificed his only son for the sins I would commit.

To him we owe our lives – here on earth and eternally in heaven. Is our life here perfect and free from pain and troubles? No. Is 50, 60, 70, or 80 years of an imperfect life a small price to pay for an eternity in heaven? I think so. I am grateful. I am awed. I am humbled that anyone, much less God, would love me so much he would trade the life of his perfect son for my imperfect life.

Just for today, find something to remind you just how great, how good, how gracious our God is.

Have a blessed day!

– PSG –