Snow Beats Rain
The forecast in Michigan has been known to go through all four seasons in the same day. We get it, those of us that have basically called Michigan home for most of our lives are well aware that the weather is unpredictable.
However, our God’s Sovereignty is anything but unpredictable. We can certainly, without any doubts, count on our God to forever be in control. And this also includes the weather. April 25, 2023, marked the 17th Annual Golf Event for Beacon of Hope. Many stories have been told of how God has provided in miraculous ways for this day over the years. And this year did not disappoint. God showed up.
The forecast prior to the event was calling for a high of 47 with chances of a wintry mix. Our golfers were coming in from different areas of the state and some woke up, the morning of, to 2 inches of snow covering the ground at their homes. Needless to say, you cannot play golf when 2 inches of snow are on the ground. But as we all made the trek to Saugatuck (a lakeshore community – home to Clearbrook Golf Club – site of 16 previous golf events), varying degrees of precipitation was experienced and seen along the way. In fact, my own journey experienced pouring snow south of Holland just before the Saugatuck exit. But as our vehicle made the exit ramp and pulled onto Blue Star Highway, the snow dissipated and we noticed it was not sticking to anything. The closer we got to the course, the snow pretty much let up altogether. As we unloaded the gear for the day, we experienced the big flake snow that was light in content and melted as it made contact with any surface.
As the golfers arrived they all gave their version of the morning and the snow they had experienced. The snow was accumulating less than a mile from the golf course, but not on the course. God’s providence allowed our event to begin on time (yes, it was snowing, but the ground was just wet, not white – at least at the start).
Snow is generally accompanied with colder temperatures. Golf is generally not very pleasant in the cold and wet conditions that were surrounding the golf course this morning. But, God was in control and we were not experiencing that bone chilling cold. We had no wind and it was like God just warmed each of us with His own personal body warmers – it was amazing. Now, we did experience some white greens and fairways, but by the time this was happening we already were well on our way to a wonderful day of playing golf. Since we began without any snow accumulation, we were allowed to continue and within less than 2 hours the snow was gone.
And it wasn’t long after this that the sun made its first appearance – (clouds were the forecast for the rest of the day). But God, well He is still in control and we saw blue and mostly sunny sky in the afternoon. (Yes, we live in Michigan – and we are blessed). God is still in control. He watches over everything we do. He is there for us in our weakest, darkest, and most frightening times – and He is there in our most victorious times. God never leaves us.
Sure, it would be nice to play one of these events with 70 degree weather, but then what kind of story would we have to tell. Call around, see how many golf courses had paying customers on the morning of Tuesday, April 25. I know nothing about sports gambling, but I would put the over under at about 3.5 and I would be inclined to take the under. Those are not good odds, but our God is not a gambler – He operates with all knowledge and wisdom when it comes to His ministry having a fundraiser. He knows what we need and He supplies! You cannot make these stories up – they just keep happening. It truly is miraculous. Our God is in control. Just let Him take over; no matter what you are facing, give it to Him, and trust. You will be amazed at what He can do. There is no task He cannot complete. There is no disease that He cannot heal. There is no mountain that He cannot move. There is no valley too deep for Him to pass through. Nothing; not a thing, no not one; nothing is impossible for our God. He also knows that Snow beats Rain every day on a golf course. Playing wet is no fun – but playing in a glorious snow with a warm inside is breathtaking. One golfer wanted to know if we were skiing or golfing. The answer is simple – whatever it takes to get the job done. God has truly blessed Beacon of Hope and we need to be faithful no matter the weather. God will show up in all the storms of life and sometimes you are just making snowballs out of those golf balls. Now, you do not get to do that very often – so thankful for all the golfers that stuck by the event and got to experience snowballs for Jesus! Next year, someone remind me to get us orange golf balls…….
Experiencing God’s Providence,
Kyle Thompson EdD LPC
Executive Director
