Cloudy Day

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Posted by Annette Burrell, March 25, 2024

Do you ever feel gloomy when you wake up to a cloudy day?  Do your thoughts immediately go toward feeling down or depressed?

Recently, I was at the beach with a girlfriend. The first two days brought beautiful, close to perfect, weather. We woke up to cloudy and misty weather on the third day. My friend said, “Woe, how’d that happen? Just two seconds ago it was clear.”

Clouds are like that. Sometimes they just pop up. At other times, like during a drought, we pray for the clouds that bring the rain.

The Hebrew word for cloud is: darkness, thickness, density. It’s no wonder we feel gloomy when “the clouds roll in.”

Most often in the Old Testament, we see a cloud as a covering for God, otherwise the people would die in His presence. Other times, clouds are used as God’s provision for the people.

Gavin Pretoria-Penney, the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, says that a version of the word cloud is mentioned 162 times in the Bible. The word “cloud” is mentioned 107 times in 94 verses; “clouds” 49 times in 49 verses; and “cloudy” 6 times in 6 verses. 

“The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 1 Kings 18:44

There is drought and famine in the land, and the people worship and sacrifice to other gods. Through Elijah, God makes himself known on Mount Carmel and the people turn back to Yahweh. Shortly after that God sends rain, starting with a cloud as small as a man’s hand. Here we see God revealing who He is, Jehovah Jireh, The Lord our provider.

Time and time again, as the people turn away from Him, He sends a messenger, a prophet and ultimately, the Messiah to rescue them from their sin of rebellion against him.

This has happened in my own life and maybe you’ll admit it has happened in your life as well. Perhaps you are in a dry season of being away from God. I was away from God and church for 7 years. Maybe, for you, most days are filled with gloom. Jesus nudged me and brought me out of the pit I was in. He never stopped pursuing me. He is pursuing you too.

“As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” Ezekiel 34:12

This is the prophet Ezekiel’s declaration of God’s ongoing pursuit, love and power of His chosen people. Even in our darkest hour, we can be assured that He is seeking us.

This is where our hope comes from. It comes from God.

He is our only hope.

He loves us unconditionally and so much so that he sent his Son to die for us—to redeem us.

God makes promises and establishes covenants throughout the Old Testament and He never breaks them.

Genesis 9:1-17 is the account of God’s promise and covenant he made with Noah just after the Flood. He promised he would not destroy the earth and mankind with a flood ever again. 

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” Genesis 9:13-15

 “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” Ezekiel 1:28

Today, my last day at the beach, the weather is clear, the temperature warm and the ocean view is perfect. How can God’s creation be anything but perfect? Even with the clouds and the storms of the last few days I see God everywhere. The clouds are a reminder to me that God is always near me. 

One of my favorite songs that depicts God’s promises is by Elevation Worship, There Is a Cloud. For me the lyrics are saying, “He pours out blessings. We need to be willing to receive it.”

There Is a Cloud

Hear the Word, roaring as thunder

With a new, future to tell

For the dry, season is over

There is a cloud, beginning to swell

To the skies, heavy with blessing

Lift up your eyes, offer your heart 

Jesus Christ, opened the Heavens

Now we receive, the Spirit of God

We receive your rain 

We receive your rain 

And with great, anticipation 

We await, the Promise to come

Everything, that You have spoken

Will come to pass, let it be done

Father God, we come to as The Creator. We thank you for being our provider. We thank you for pursuing us. We receive your rain. We receive your blessing. We await your Promise to come again. Let it be done.

There Is A Cloud | Official Lyric Video | Elevation Worship

Annette Burrell is an author, speaker, and singer/songwriter. Through Annette’s years of being a public servant, and her devotion to studying the Bible, God has equipped her to lead women into His presence, and share with them how they can grow in Christ. Her passion is learning, sharing about the Heavenly realms, and God’s plan of protection for us as believers.