Saturday, September 10, 2011

When the Rains Must Fall

It was a dark and stormy night and I found myself laying down in bed next to my just turned two year old. He had ran and got me saying over and over, "I scared Mommy." My mother heart could do nothing but run to his side and place my protective hand around him. He was asleep within minutes. The storm was still raging, but he was resting in my presence.

Don't you know that is how God feels about you and how we should respond to Him? The Bible is full of promises that God is with us and that He will never leave us (Matt 28:20, Joshua 1:9, Hag 2:5, 2 Cor 6:16). The Psalmist often speaks of Christ being right with Him (Psalm 121:5, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 23). His presence IS with you. Are you resting? No matter what the circumstances look like around you, are you resting in HIS presence? Is His presence enough to give you a sense of security?

Secondly, as I was lying there I thought to myself, even if I could take away the storm I wouldn't. I know the storm seems scary and overwhelming, but the earth needed the rain. In order for the gardens to grow, the trees to stay strong, the fruit to bear, the earth needed the rain. Believe that God has the eternal perspective. That He knows although this storm feels like it is consuming you, it is actually allowing parts of you to grow and not become stagnant or dead. Paul writes in Romans "we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:1-6). It is only when we are stretched and dependent upon Him that we can truly grow.

I urge you to think about "whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise. Dwell on these things" (Phil 4:8). What is the truth? God is with you! You are not alone and He is in control! Start resting, start praising and persevere. Remember that it is only through the rain, that new growth can come!