Pillar of Cloud

"Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up."

Exodus 40:36-37

"The word of the Lord has come these days in the story of the pillar of clouds and fire. The cloud spread for a covering links on with Col. 3:15--'Let the peace of God legislate.'

There is such a sense of infinite rest in the desert in being under a great shadow--it seems to bring a cool river of peace through all one's being. God's guidance, if our soul's instinct is healthy, tallies with the sense of rest--in a very real way, this sense of rest guides us--and legislates for us.

Anything that brings a sense of restlessness means that we have got from under the cloud shadow--we have gone off on some self devised path, or we have not kept pace with God...It is the same in cases of perplexity--where there is no clear command in His word to guide us--where the sense of rest falls (always taking for granted that our wills are in His Hand) there is His path--it is there that the shadow of His cloud is falling."

--Lilias Trotter

"I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry - we must be doing - so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, 'Stand still,' or 'Sit still,' or 'Be still,' unless He is going to do something."

--Crumbs

And so...when clouds obscure your way, and you don't know what the next step should be...STOP! Don't move on until the cloud lifts through prayer and the Spirit's leading...for that very cloud that obscures and confuses may very well be the Lord keeping you still, and where He wants you! How encouraging that thought is. Sometimes His presence is a bright fire, clearly showing the way. Other times, He covers you with a cloud, teaching you patience and trustfulness in the "still" times, so that you learn to rely utterly on Himself.

Even if He "stays" you longer than you might choose. :)

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!"

Psalm 31:24