Calm After the Storm

This photo was snapped just a few hours after overnight storms with very loud thunder and strobe-like lightning moved through our area. Just an hour north and northeast of here, tornadoes ripped through, leaving devastation in their wake. Yet, to look at this photo, you'd never know anything so awful had happened...homes, businesses, schools destroyed...families reeling from the loss of loved ones...messes to clean up, structures to rebuild, lives to somehow pick up the pieces and move on...
Yet this view serves as a God-hug, gently reminding me that He is the Redeemer and Restorer. He painted the skies brilliant blue to remind me to have hope. He sprouted the new green grass to remind me that He is the God of ALL things new. 
Before snapping this photo, I paused a moment to soak up the welcome warmth of the sun and breathe a prayer of thanks for His protection, provision, & peace here at Bursting Barns, then He reminded me that this same blue sky is also covering the areas hit hardest overnight, so I asked Him to lift the heads and renew the hope of all those affected. I asked Him to send them a tangible reminder that He is the God of new beginnings, the Redeemer, Restorer, and Master Rebuilder. 
What storms are you dealing with in your life? 
Lift your eyes and see the hope He offers. ​