With Easter Sunday approaching, I didn’t really know what to expect. Daily checks of the weather forecast weren’t good, with a 50-60% chance of thunderstorms and rain during the morning hours. Since almost everyone drives to services on golf carts, bad weather always reduces the number of attendees, and it would certainly put a damper on the Easter egg hunt.
As a pastor, I completely understand and accept that God is in total control of the weather, and if the Almighty wants it to rain on the holiest day of the Christian calendar, then that is his right. I don’t have to understand why He does things, but I do have to submit my will to his and accept it. So, I was mentally prepared for whatever weather we would receive, fully expecting thunderstorms while hoping for blue skies.
For whatever reason, the arrival of the storm system kept being delayed, and the 50-60% chance of rain Sunday morning had dwindled down to nearly 0% by the time I last checked Saturday evening. Blue skies were proclaiming the majesty of the day when our first service began at 8:00 am. For almost the entire day Sunday, the weather was absolutely spectacular, and families filled the church for worship then sent their children scurrying happily across the church grounds following the later service, in search of colorful plastic eggs filled with candy. The storms finally arrived about the time that the sun was setting, bringing much needed rain long after the Easter activities were concluded.
It would have been easy to be anxious or depressed early in the week looking at the forecast, but that would have been completely unproductive. Besides, most of us know that weather forecasts, especially several days out, aren’t very reliable. Frankly, the same can be said about many predictions of future events. We can worry about the future, but that tends to rob us of the opportunities to enjoy today. It may even keep us distracted from tending to things that we should be working on.
The Apostle Paul wrote two verses in two separate letters that, when put together, do a great job of explaining the folly of anxiety. To the church in Philippi, he wrote “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God”. And to the church in Rome he wrote “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” In other words, don’t worry, pray to God, be thankful, then rest in the knowledge that whatever happens is good in His mind.
Instead of obsessing over the weather, our church team focused on preparing for a special day of celebration. We had absolutely gorgeous weather on Sunday, but even if it had poured down in the morning, it would have been exactly what God intended, and that would have made it okay. However, I guess He wanted the hundreds who did show up to be clean and dry, and focused on the hope that we have from an empty tomb. It was truly a glorious day!
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron