For the first time in my memory, the rest of the United States is getting to experience what we here in Kansas call normal weather. Outrageous snow followed by warm temperatures or vice versa. Crazy storms followed by outrageous snows. Or no snow when you’re supposed to have it. Anyone who said living in Kansas is boring has never lived here or isn’t paying enough attention.
Some people don’t care for the crazy ups and downs of central plains weather, but I like it. And I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m so excited for the coming weekend. South-central Kansas has been in the deep freeze for a while, and by the weekend we should have temperatures near 60. Crazy. Because the high Monday didn’t even hit 20. But that’s Kansas weather, and that’s the way it’s always been here.
I don’t do this very often. I should. But today I just wanted to take a brief moment and thank God for the way He created the weather. I’m sure it’s nice living in a stable climate. I’m sure it has it’s good points. That was something I laughed about with my best friend when she moved to England. Nutty weather was something she missed.
But how often do we just take a moment and thank God for the weather? Snowy or warm, bitter or mild, sunny or cloudy?
The old school house at Safe Haven Farm covered in snow, Haven, KS
Today’s verse is Nehemiah 9:6.
You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
It may seem like weather is random, but there’s nothing random in our world. There’s nothing coincidental, and God has control of everything. So if that’s the case, weather falls under God’s purview too. Have you ever thought about it that way?
Admittedly, when I’m struggling to get to my car in snow drifts taller than my knees and preparing myself for a drive that is twice as long as normal because of icy conditions, praising God for the snow isn’t on the top of my list. But you know what? It should be. Weather has its purpose just like any other part of life. If it doesn’t freeze and get cold here, we’re overrun with bugs in summer. If it doesn’t snow, the wheat doesn’t get enough moisture while it’s waiting for the growing season to begin. Conversely, if it doesn’t get hotter than blue blazes outside in summer, the wheat won’t dry out and be ready for harvest.
Everything is connected, and nothing is an accident. And God is behind all of it.
So many people see the weather and complain, and that’s understandable. It can be irritating and exhausting, and I will say I’m totally ready for a change in the weather. But that’s what great about Kansas: The weather is always changing.
Weather is part of God’s creation, and God has a plan for everything He does. So why sit around and complain when the weather doesn’t suit our opinion of what it should be? It’s part of a bigger plan. And how miraculous is God’s plan for weather? What creativity to design the world so that we have weather! I mean think about that!
So the next time you’re angry about the weather, stop. I mean, come on, people, what’s the point of being angry at the weather anyway? Do you realize how silly that is? I was angry about backing into a tree; at least that’s something I can change in the future. There’s nothing we can change about the weather. It’s going to do what God tells it to do. So stop wasting energy and focusing on the things you don’t like. It’s a waste of time and it poisons your perspective.
Instead, think about the marvel of weather. Think about how everything has to work in perfect synchronization to give us weather at all, whether it’s snow or rain or hail or wind or clouds. And be thankful for it. Honestly, I think weather is one of the miracles God gives us every day that we never say thank you for.
So, thanks, God, for our nutty weather. Thank you that it’s been cold and snowy, and thank you it’s going to be warm again!
The next time you don’t like the weather where you’re at, take a step back and think about what it takes to make that weather. And if you look at it that way, surely you’ve got to see the design behind it. And if God designed it, we’d better not complain about it. I mean, you can if you want to. But you’re going to sound pretty silly. Just saying.
Always Peachy 