the cloud lifted

Numbers 9:22
"Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when the cloud lifted, they would set out."

I was thinking the other day about a time 9 years ago when life seemed to be about as good as it could get - amazing do-life-together friends, great church, great job, close enough to family to visit whenever I wanted. All was well until life sort of blew up in our faces - things went haywire at the church (which happened to be my place of employment and the connecting place of the life-doing friends). I don't think I will ever understand God's reason behind the "Why did this happen?" question but reading this verse today, that I'm sure I've read many times even over these past 9 years, it lit up for me - THE CLOUD LIFTED.

For whatever reason it was time for most or all of us to move on and (for whatever reason) God chose to use sad and difficult circumstances to MOVE us. I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything but there is a new peace in my heart to realize that the only thing I ever NEED to understand about the "Why did this happen?" is the fact that the cloud lifted and when it did it was time for me to "set out"!

Thank you, Jesus, for leading and guiding, for moving the cloud in your perfect timing, for giving me eyes to see and follow in the midst of junk, for continuing to move my heart away from the junk and into your sweet presence! Thank you for being TRUSTWORTHY! When nothing else around me made sense I could TRUST the moving of the cloud because it was YOU.