Dance In The Rain

“When it rains, it pours”.  

That expression is pretty common, and known to mean that it seems like when one bad thing happens, another isn’t far behind and then another and then another… Life can seem like that.  We are cruising along in life down an open, sunny road and all of a sudden things change, and we are drenched and looking for a place to get out of the rain.

Rain is necessary.  It is a crucial part of our ecosystem, providing drinking water for humans and animals.  It keeps our planet’s beauty by filling our rivers, lakes, and oceans while it also provides nourishment for trees and flowers.  It is also necessary for our food supply to continue as it waters the crops.  Yet, most of us don’t like it.

It is a true example of good stuff coming out of something unpleasant.  There is no doubt that every person reading this has at least one thing going on in life that you wish you could change or stop or erase and start over.  This can be stressful and cause us to worry as we seek a place to get away from it.

Here’s the deal.  That sunny, open problem free day is a gift from God, and so is the dreary, cluttered, stressful one.  Everything is His!  We can’t take credit for our prosperity, because it comes from Him.  We can’t hide under the covers until the rain passes either because this rainstorm comes from Him too.  We need to face it head on, and see what we can learn from it.

WHY?? We don’t have the ability to think like God does.  Our heads would explode if we could, but we are told that God causes ALL things to work together for our good according to His purpose.  He uses the rainy, problematic days to teach us and help us grow.  He gives and He takes away, and we have to learn to be content in all things and see that He is faithful and will provide.  Is it always fun? NO!  But, realizing that there is a reason for all of it makes it easier to embrace.

Being a Christian doesn’t make you immune to problems. Problems fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.  How you choose to get through them is where you will see the difference. 

Drink in the rain, focus on the purpose of it, and know that it will end.  Be brave enough to dance it.  It will make us more beautiful, nourish our souls and help us grow.  It sounds cheesy to say that you can’t have a rainbow without some rain, but it’s true.  Everyone marvels at the beauty of a rainbow as the storms are ending and the sun is coming back out.  It’s a masterpiece. 

When the rain is pouring, you are drenched, and feel like you can’t see beyond the next moment, praise Him!  Allow Him to take away your worries and become one of His masterpieces.  The problems might come back, praise Him again!  Praise Him in everything!

Passages to Ponder:

Ecclesiastes 7:14- Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.  Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

Romans 8:28- And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

Matthew 5:45- In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.  For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Tammy Holtzapfel and Kim McClure