April showers bring May flowers!
We all know that rain can be both beneficial and destructive. I pray that through the rainy days of life you will be able to find God’s flowers blooming in your life. David said it so eloquently when he said, “You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.” Psalms 65:10
There are not too many of us that like the April showers that come because honestly when we wake up and it is a gray, dark, overcast day it sets the mood for the day, and we know that it is not a mood that many of us like to be in. If your like me, you want to sleep in a little longer, maybe you don’t get as excited about the day as you might normally. Your plans may get put on hold or cancelled. Rain can be disruptive at times. When the clouds roll in to your life how do you feel. There’s a financial hurdle on the horizon, trouble brewing in a relationship, an increased stress level in your work. How do these clouds affect you? Our outlook generally becomes dark, somewhat like those dark overcast days. Really the reasons for this mood are much the same.
Uncertainty, doubt about the future and our fears begin to surface. Fears of failure, loneliness and
loss. It is not really the rains and the storms that scare us. It is the havoc that those storms can create that gives us such trouble. And there is no way around them. The Apostle John said… “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows..." John 16:33.
The storms of life come in many shapes and forms. These may include family, career, financial, relationships, health and catastrophes. If you’ve ever dealt with a rebellious teen, a failed marriage, a loss of employment, financial strain and serious illness you know what I’m talking about. Storms do happen so what are we to do, what is the hope in all of this? If we look at John 16:33 as a whole verse, we see an awesome promise from Jesus, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Jesus has overcome the world. The one that holds you in the storms, also controls the storms. Jesus will always be there and He controls it all. A much needed rain is found in every storm. The rains come and they soften the ground, they nourish the crops contained within the ground, and they revitalize the soil. The rains of life bring great benefits for you as well. Let us look at the softening effect of life’s rains. First of all God uses the rain storms of life to soften circumstances. Sometimes those storms remove adversities. The hills of life are softened and leveled. Our endurance produces greater strength to face those adversities. God may use the rains to soften your heart. By going through the rain, you become more empathetic to others. You begin to seek God’s direction and not your own. Which ultimately leads to receptivity to God’s voice. As you listen to Him you notice that your attitude begins to change. With this change comes a concern for others, humility and emotional sensitivity that was not there before. Not only are we softened, but through the rain comes nourishment. We find that God’s promises sustain us. We have a deep recognition of Jesus’ presence. Leading, comforting, sustaining. God uses rains to bring others into our life. People who can offer words of encouragement and lend a helping hand.
Rain brings a revitalization of the soil. This revitalization comes from a filling of the Holy Spirit. Seeing God’s power working within us in the midst of the storm renews our strength. We not only meet this challenge head on, but we are prepared to take on the next, having experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence before. We receive clear vision and defined purpose for our lives. The ultimate benefit of rain is a new awareness of God’s presence. Without adversity we would not recognize His strength and provision. The rain serves as a reminder of God’s love. God loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus to die for our sins. Only Jesus could withstand the storm of our sin, and He did so willingly. Rain promotes strength and vitality. The rains bring forth new life and allow us to produce new fruit.
Serving His Kingdom Together,
Travis Mowell