That balcony where God showed up for me in seventh grade became a favorite place for me to watch the awesome multi-colored thunderstorms that frequently blew by. (One of the few upsides to pollution is the different colors of lightning). I loved thunderstorms and the feel of the intense wind on my face. I look back on this and know this was one of the many ways that God called to me: through nature. He still does when I stop to admire the beauty He has created in this world.
My stay in Asia was coming to a close with my high school graduation. I had finally adjusted to being there, and it had become home to me. I had made friends in our small school, and figured out how to navigate the food, enjoying quite a bit of it. So now I was leaving all things familiar to fly back to the USA to attend Bible school–without my family. My mom was coming initially to get me settled and then would return to Asia. I would be with extended family that I didn’t know very well. I was feeling sad, terrified, and alone, again.
But God knew this and sent me a reminder that I was not alone. As I went to bed my final night in Asia before my flight, I looked out of the hotel window and saw the most spectacular thunderstorm I have ever seen (even to this day). I watched blue, green, yellow and orange streaks far out over the city for over a half hour as they exploded from the sky several at a time and zigzagged to the ground. I was filled with awe and thankfulness for that one last storm of beauty. It was still rumbling and flashing when I went to sleep.
But God wasn’t done convincing me that I wasn’t alone. I said goodbye to my friends in the airport as we all boarded separate airplanes heading in different directions. As I sat on the plane at sunrise, trying not to cry but losing the battle, feeling so lost and afraid, God whispered these words to my heart:
“If I take up the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me” Psalm 139:9-10 NASB
Peace filled my heart, and I knew that I wouldn’t be alone on the other side of the world. I was still scared and sad, and I didn’t know God very well yet. But He was making sure I knew He was there with me. God’s presence eased this transition across the sea, and His hands held me fast.