Terry Devitt writes:

In John Bunyan’s Christian classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, he gives an insightful look at the Christian life through the eyes of a man named Christian. On his journey to the Celestial City (heaven) he stays overnight at the Stately Palace. His hosts then explained “if the weather is clear, we would like to show you the Delectable Mountains”. The Delectable Mountains represent those times in our Christian lives when God reveals Himself in such a way that greatly encourages or strengthens us. They represent unusual experiences of communion with God or help from God. They are glimpses of what heaven will be like.

Christian’s hosts noted that it would be possible to have this view only if the weather is clear. Why wouldn’t the weather be clear? What is it that would cause our “weather” to hinder our view of God? One reason is not surprising. Our sin or carelessness in the Christian life are reasons we sometimes face “cloudy” weather. Isaiah 59:2 says “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” We can also be careless about the Christian life. The Psalmist reminds us to “forget none of His benefits (Ps. 103:2).” When we forget to think about and thank God for His blessings, we can lose sight of Him. Confession, repentance of sin and obedience is our response in order to clear up the weather.

But it sometimes happens that God brings the “cloudy” weather. Job went through an extended time when his sight of God was severely obstructed. He did not abandon his faith, but he was sorely tested in it. In Job 13:24 he laments, "Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy?” With the benefit of hindsight; we understand that God granted Satan the authority to bring those difficulties into Job’s life. And that is the point; God sometimes brings circumstances into our life which He designs to teach us to walk by faith, not by sight. That is a precious truth.

“Cloudy” times can be caused by our doing. But they are also sometimes designed by God. The Christian must learn to distinguish which one it is. Regardless of the reason for the obstruction in our view of God, it is still reason to praise and thank Him. In both situations, God is up to something good. He is seeking to restore our fellowship with Him, or He is teaching us to walk by faith, not by sight knowing that the Delectable Mountains are there, even though we cannot see them.