Jeremy L. Berg

While dark clouds are a foreboding sight, they’re not always bad.

Our own dark cloud is settling on our life as May approaches and Keri and I prepare to leave our current church and ministry in a few weeks.  The dark cloud represents the following:

• The sadness of leaving our beloved church family and dear students.
• The uncertainty of our future (ministry, community, employment).

I’ve chosen this metaphor carefully. It’s the best way to describe the looming uncertainty and gnawing sadness I’ve felt slowly approaching on the horizon of our life the past 4 months.

But dark clouds are not all bad.  In fact, I believe deep in my heart that dark clouds are where we best encounter God’s awesome presence.  In Scripture, clouds represent the manifest presence, protection, and guidance of YHWH among his people.  For instance,

“The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne” (Psalm 97:1-2).

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people” (Exodus 13:21-22).

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19-20).

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp… As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses” (Exodus 33:7,9).

(For more on clouds in Scripture click here.)

So, Keri and I are watching the dark cloud loom closer on the horizon, and will soon envelope us completely.  But we know that God will be drawing near to us within the dark fog, and like He did with his people of old, he will be present with us, protect us, and speak to and guide us into a future filled with new and exciting ministry for His Kingdom!

In fact, part of me is thrilled to welcome the dark cloud into our life, because I know that it has the potential to increase our faith and intensify our prayers. Best yet, hidden in that dark cloud are the exciting, awesome, and, perhaps, yet to be revealed plans of the Lord for our future.  Plus, Jesus meets us in the cloud as well:

“Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus” (Mark 9:7-8).

While driving in thick fog is not advised because you cannot see the road ahead, the journey of faith is the exact opposite.  The thick, dark fog that envelopes us from time to time prevents us from moving forward without God, and forces us to pay attention to the only thing we can really trust — His voice from the cloud.  Only when we’re prevented from seeing too far down the road of our future, do we have the eyes of faith to see Jesus standing right in front of us (…”they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus”).

But the dark cloud is still an intimidating sight to behold, and still can feel quite overwhelming and scary. Thanks for your continued prayers as we prayerfully seek God’s calling for our next season of ministry.

PS: We want friends and family to know that we have a good sense of what God’s calling us to next, but the details are still very unsettled.  We will share when appropriate what God may have in store for us next. Be patient with us, as we’re patient with the Lord.

Enveloped by God’s grace, listening to His voice with Jesus at our side,

Jeremy (& Keri)