Awestruck By Lightning

A few years ago my comfortability with and satisfaction in the temporary things of life was awoken and shattered in an instant! What caused such a dramatic and involuntary response in me, you ask? Well, a terrifying lightning strike which felt and sounded as though it hit right outside my window as I lay still in bed! As strange as it may sound, this split second, morbidly frightening experience is something I have never forgotten. You see, this epic electric shock elicited a type of raw reaction from me that I’ve rarely experienced!

About a minute or so prior to said lightning strike I awoke from my slumber to the sounds of a not too shabby storm outside. My only interest in that sleepy, disoriented moment was to conk back out, but for some (and I’m assuming partly supernatural) reason I just couldn’t do it. So, BOOM! It happened. My body suddenly felt wracked with the impact to the earth and my abrupt startled demeanor. I was immediately and unexplainably soaked with sweat. And as though my spirit couldn’t help it, which was no doubt heightened by the Holy Spirit’s presence, it naturally, spontaneously leaped at acknowledging God in that moment! Before I could even think on my own!

As I continue, I want you to know that I absolutely believe this series of events, from the time I woke up, to the strike, to the resulting response, was purposely orchestrated by God.

My heart and mind rapidly went through several things in the next few moments. I lifted up words of praise to our Heavenly Father for His majesty, beauty, holiness, and might in the same way that the psalmists did when viewing nature! I thanked Him for His protection from the lightning and the storm through His directive power! I prayed for His further protection and favor through the rest of the storm as I knew only He could provide. I wondered to myself why I or anyone else would ever disobey Him, having such strength, wisdom, and understanding! Within that moment I made a simple renewal of obedience, faithfulness, and faith in Him! I also felt an immense sense of joy that I belong to Him, that He is my God and I am His son!

So, for the sake of a good title, this whole experience left me awestruck by lightning. But more accurately it left me awestruck by God, the creator & director of the lightning!

It just goes to show that the Lord Jesus reigns above everything with and in power that simply cannot be resisted!

The morning following this occurrence of electric proportions I came across these verses in Psalm 97 as I spent time with the Lord:

Psalm 97:4 – “His lightnings illumine the world; the earth sees and trembles.”

Assuming I don’t have to say anything here. God straight up planted this verse in my path, knowing of and speaking in response to my reaction toward Him and His lightning!

Psalm 97:6 – “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.”

The heavens absolutely spoke of His righteousness with this lightning strike and I so completely saw His glory!

Psalm 97:11-12 – “Light is sown for the righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

Both literally and spiritually God shone a light on my life that night!

Understand that the ones who are called righteous in these verses are simply those individuals who are upright and in right standing with God through the reconciliation provided by claiming Jesus’s shed blood. So we’re talking about all believers here!

The Amplified Bible describes the joy mentioned here as the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection. This is undoubtedly a major part of what I felt through it all! And I hope and pray this simple testimony elicits the same sort of reaction out of you.