The Wall of Fog

Fog has painted a wall
between forest and all that’s beyond.
Thick white obscures all lines.
There is no lake, no forested shore
across those waters. What lies beyond
is blurred, hidden. Looking up we see
yet more white; there is no sky.

But we know that it is there.
I am reminded: we can’t see God,
but he is there. He is here.
When the wind blows, we see
tree branches dancing.
His Spirit works, and we can glimpse
what he is doing, inside the fog.

Don’t let this fog fool you,
saying there is nothing, No One
beyond what eyes can see.
Pay attention to the signs,
like a bird flying through the “wall”.
Remember what you’ve seen before,
reality beyond the gray.

And the closer you move to the fog
the more you can see
the ripples in the water, a hint
of expanse mostly hidden.
That fog is temporary, too.
There will come a time when
it will vanish, wiped away.

“Be still, and know that I am God."

I’ve often been there. I pour out my heart to my Father, asking him to do what he says he does: hunt down the wandering sheep, intervene in a crisis, reveal wickedness and promote justice. I know that he says to wait for him – it is a theme throughout the psalms. It is often a long, anxious wait: “I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” (Ps. 130:6 NIV). I want whatever is obscuring my vision to dissipate, whether it be darkness, fog, distance, or chaos.

But his answer is that I need to quiet my soul and my babbling, to trust that he is always actively doing what is necessary to accomplish his purpose. In fact, he is the sovereign one who “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” (Eph 1:10 NIV). I must remember that he is good, and has given his all to provide a way to healing, restoration, and new life. He can do way more than we imagine (Eph 3:20).

A metaphor came to mind that helps me calm my questions. He is the Ultimate Undercover Agent! Because he knows the ins and outs of every person’s situation, and the rolling out of the story of the nations, he can work through people that have no idea they are participating in accomplishing what he wants. He can work inside minds and hearts, even when those being lovingly pulled toward healing do not see his hand or recognize his voice. He is not distant; he is the one present in time and space, the I AM. He knows absolutely everything that is going on – even when a tiny bird falls down or my aging hair is thinning (Mat 10:29,30). In every situation, he is at work even when we cannot wrap our minds about it because we do not know all that he knows and we cannot see all that he is doing. Sometimes his messages seem coded, but we can stay alert and watch for the signs that he is on the move.

Once again I hear that message whispering in my heart: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). That says it all. Be quiet. Remember his awe-inspiring attributes of goodness and unending love, and that he is King of everything. Rest. Wait. He may be under cover, but he is on the move.