Rain

I woke up yesterday to an overcast morning and soon following the sound of rain as it bounced off the pavement. What a much needed relief for the plants but also for us. As the days have been parched, I think we too absorb the dryness. The heat tends to make us sluggish and the fresh sound, scent and sight of a good rain just seems to calm the soul and wet the appetite for a peaceful countenance. At least it does for me. As a child my mom's favorite days were rainy ones. She would make us tents of blankets in the den, covering couches, chairs and coffee tables and secured them with books. She made sure that we had flashlights and books and pillows and we could stay tucked in there for hours. And just when we were about to emerge she would serve lunch on paper plates, or snacks if lunch had come and gone. Actually, looking back there was a most definite method to her playfulness. Still today it is one of my fondest memories.

As the rain gently fell down from the skies, I could almost feel the presence of God in my midst. For with the rain came relief for a very parched land. It was a fresh blanket of nourishment that covered the thirsty ground on which it landed. It was nourishment for my thirsty soul as well. For there are cycles in my life just as there are cycles in yours, and some are dry seasons of restlessness, pain and quandaries while others are saturated with joy.

We have been in a drought for some time now, needing water desperately. And finally we have had some relief. But just as land becomes parched so do we when we do not go to God's well and fill up on the encouragement, strength, courage, wisdom. grace and mercy that he has waiting for us.
God sits on his heavenly throne and controls the weather. He makes the winds blow, he lights up our days with the sun, and our nights with the stars and the moon. He brings about rain, and storms, and allows natural disasters to blow through cities and towns. The master control panel of this earth lies in his hands alone, We don't know why he allows devastation, or why he doesn't come quicker when we plead for relief. But as I sit her writing, it occurs to me that we have allowed his holy name to be shoved underground, and hidden from our lips and our lives. His name doesn't fit in our daily conversations, or his ways in our daily walk. We seldom speak his name or give him credit for the many ways that he has blessed us. Partly because we have become immune to his blessings. We either overlook them or ignore them or choose to take the credit for what he does or blame him when he doesn't respond as we would like.

But just as we are like the land and become parched ourselves we are unlike the land in that we are able to not only seek relief but embrace it. We know when we are tired, and weary and flattened out by life's obstacles yet to many times we wait till we crack before seeking relief. It doesn't matter what or who has drained you of your gentleness and kindness and impatience ...what matters is that you and i both know where to go for help. We cannot and are not equipped to fortify our positions or our emotions when we are cracking...for we are already broken. We need someone to come beside us and refresh us
and place a blanket of love and understanding over us. And God is the only one with the resources to compensate for our brokenness, no matter what the original cause was or is.

I have been prayerfully working on this devotional now for two days....had to change everything from present tense to past tense. Some topics are just harder than others...And still I am not sure if I have got God's wording down as he would like it to be. I want the calmness that the rain brings to encompass my very being, all the time. But sometimes circumstances have a way of cracking my focus and I get rattled and lose my perspective. These are some of the thoughts that I work through to try to get back under that blanket of God's security and love.

I just know that when we are parched we need relief. And God is the only one who knows all the working pieces in our lives. He knows our underground frustrations, and our pains and just where are needs are and he is the only one fully bonded and credible enough to take us on, each with our own set of cracked up perspectives, and needs and expectations. And unless we go to him in dependence and faithfulness and trust, we are liable to stay in the dry land that is causing us such pain. I believe that all of us yearn to be in a place of acceptance and to be respected and loved but as great as our families are and our friends are, they are going to drop the ball, and disappoint us, just as we drop the ball and disappoint them. So that is why we have to call on God. He remains steadfast, without blemish, with loving direction as he helps us grow...in stature, in wisdom, and in His grace.

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

I just keep thinking about that rain covered blanket of relief...that our city was blessed with this week. That is a visual image of just what God can do with us. He covers us with his protection and love but too many times we throw the covers off and don't give him the opportunity to fill us with his rich bounty of
grace. I wake up parched, I am cracked and I am in great need everyday of help and relief from God for a bad attitude, unkind words, judgmental actions, impatient responses, unfair expectations, prideful countenance ...you name it I have got it. And the only way to overcome my weaknesses are to abide in God's strength. Period.

I love rainy days...they have a way of calming my anxious spirit, and slowing down the pace of life.

Dear Lord, May I remember not to wait until I crack to ask for relief, and accept that blanket of love that you so effortlessly cover me with.

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!