“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” — 2 Kings 6:17
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A Swedish pastor named Carl Boberg was walking home from church one day when he was caught in an intense storm. Extreme thunder, lightning and wind surrounded him. Suddenly the storm stopped, enabling him to see the sun shining and hear the birds singing. This experience inspired him to write the hymn “How Great Thou Art.”
“I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder; Thy power throughout the universe displayed … How great Thou art!”
The storm may have hindered his ability to see the sun and hear the birds, but they were still there. Likewise, when we experience the storms of life, we may find it difficult to see past the storms, but the reality is God is still there.
Praising God for His constant presence makes all the difference. He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that His presence will go with us wherever we go. He instructs us to be strong and courageous and not be afraid because He is with us.
Sometimes in our sports, it seems we are up against a perfect storm, and it is difficult to see past the obstacles. In that moment, choosing to praise God for the reality of His presence encourages us that we are not alone.
In 2 Kings 6, Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes to see past the invading army and see God’s presence. God answered by opening the servant’s eyes to see God’s provision for victory. God has a provision for us as well. Praise Him for His presence and see what He might do.
— Karen Zando, Orlando Pride team chaplain
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