Last month I posted a devotion titled, "The rain storm that wasn’t there".  This post is different from that one but still involves rain (I am not sure why I even wrote that line).  But anyway…

…I love thunderstorms.  I have fond memories of my dad and me standing in the garage and watching an approaching thunderstorm.  There was something about being out in the storm without really getting wet (except for the stray rain drop that would get blown into the garage and always land in my eye).  I stood there in amazement watching the lightening and then prepared myself for the clap of thunder to follow.  Mom would always yell out to dad and me and tell us to come inside.  It was great because it was the only time I had permission not to heed my mom’s instructions.  Dad wasn’t worried, so neither was I.

Today a thunderstorm rolled towards Jackson.  In the post "The rain storm that wasn’t there" the radar indicated rain but there was nothing in the sky.  Today, there was definitely something in the sky…headed right for Jackson.  So I went to my weather website to watch this storm as I watched out my window.  This time the weather website was correct…a thunderstorm was approaching.  I was excited.  But to make matters better there were some red and orange cells headed toward us (in case you don’t know red and orange means a "better" storm).  I was even more excited.  I watched the storm inch closer and closer.  The winds picked up and the temperature dropped a little.  The skies got darker and I prepared for an amazing light show.  And then…<pause for effect>…NOTHING but a little rain.  WHAT HAPPENED!  I went back to my weather website and replayed the last one hour loop and studied the storm’s approach as if I were getting ready to go on the air shortly.  Then I saw something that really did not surprise me (because it happens all the time here in Jackson).  As the red and orange cells moved right towards Jackson they dissipated and went around the town.  Sites on either side of Jackson got the red and orange cells but Jackson just got the green (light rain) cells.  You really need to see it to believe it.  We were going to get hit head on and then…NOTHING!  At least we got some rain and a couple small claps of thunder.  My day is not a total loss.

I wonder…<pause to prepare to wonder with me>…

…as Satan sits watching his radar of storms he throws at us; does he get frustrated as he watches God dissipate those storms in our lives?  Does he jump up and down in anger as God hands us an umbrella?  Does Satan throw his pointy little fork to the ground when God holds on to us when the winds hit?  Does Satan pull his hair out as God dries us off in the aftermath?  Storms will hit and we will get wet, but God is the great dissipater to frustrate Satan’s plans.

<"Yes", I know all this is true, and I thank you God, but can’t you let an actual thunderstorm through once in a while?> 

Praise be to God and Amen! -EDH-