It's been raining both literally and figuratively A LOT the last couple months... But even in the grumbling and complaining... even in the "if I had a preference... I choose sun" moments... I am GLAD for rain... for ALL the growth and healing and renewal it can bring... BE ENCOURAGED! ~~ Laurie
Do you like the rain? As I write this, the rain is pouring down. I've looked out the window for sightings of cats and dogs, but I've only seen raindrops!
We tend to not like rain very much. It gets in the way of our obsession with comfort. Rain gets in the way of the comfort of a dry day. Rain gets in the way of the comfort of nicely coiffed hair. Rain gets in the way of dry shoes and pressed clothes. It makes outdoor entertainment and activities difficult.
Few of us look out the window on a rainy day and say, "What a great day!" But that's exactly what God's people in the Old Testament did. When you're living in desert-like places, a rainy day is a good day.
In the Bible, rain is often used as a metaphor for blessing. The Bible talks about blessings raining down on us. Perhaps there's a connection between the way we tend to respond to rain and the way we tend to respond to blessing.
God blesses us in surprising ways, ways that don't always seem like blessing. He sends the rain of difficulty, not because He doesn't love us, but because He does, and He’s calling us beyond ourselves to find new and deeper hope in Him. (emphasis mine)
He sends the rain of an honest friend to confront us with the need for growth, because He wants to bless us with maturity. He sends the rain of failure, so that we’ll get our identity from Him and not from our achievement. He sends the rain of want, so that we’ll grow in faith and courage. All of these things are blessings of His love, but we tend to not see them as blessings. In fact, in the moments when we’re experiencing these things we’re often tempted to question God's love.
How about looking out your window and thanking God for the rain. And how about asking Him to give you eyes to see the surprising blessings He’ll rain down on you because He loves you.
May God rain his blessings on you until you are sopping wet!
God bless
Paul David Tripp
