I had the opportunity to take a ride in a hot air balloon with my mother years ago, and it was wonder-full. It was a perfect day with a bright sun, a few clouds, a gentle wind, and a pleasant temperature. We rose over the hills, farms, and houses in northern Maryland and then drifted along with the air current. To all of us in the balloon, it felt as if there was no wind because a balloon travels at the same speed as the air around it, but we knew there was a breeze because we could see the scenery below us changing. It was so beautiful to see everything from that perspective, and without the noise of an engine, it was incredibly peaceful, no matter what was going on below.
When the pilot made the balloon rise into a cloud, it was breathtaking! There was no sound and no wind. All we could see was white, much like being surrounded by the densest fog you can imagine except there was no darkness with it. Nothing at all was visible except the balloon, the people in it, and brilliantly bright white. It felt like we were just hanging there and time was standing still. It didn’t feel like we were moving in any direction or that anything was happening.
When the pilot chose to take us down out of the cloud, we knew we were in a completely different place because the scenery below us was different. Since we hadn’t been able to see the landscape and roads changing as we went along, we passengers didn’t know exactly where we were, but it was apparent that, though it hadn’t felt or looked like we were moving while in the cloud, we most certainly had been. As a matter of fact, we had been in the cloud so long that we had traveled further than we imagined.
During times of restriction, it may feel to some like nothing is happening or that they are going nowhere spiritually, but God is always doing something. I have a great sense that we have no idea just how much He has and is doing, especially in each of us individually. As we begin to come out of the times of restriction, I believe we are and will discover that we have spiritually moved and changed much more than we could imagine.
So, if you feel like nothing is happening, just wait, enjoy the ride, and allow a sense of anticipation and excitement to build as the day of unveiling gets closer. If you can truly grab hold of the news that He is using this time for your benefit, no matter what you feel, then with each passing day, the anticipation can build as the surprise that awaits you gets bigger and better. When it feels like it’s all gone on too long, remember He is perfecting your surprise, you. Now that’s even better than presents on Christmas morning!!!
