As I watch raindrops slide down my window and drench the yard, my heart goes out to a family who bid farewell to a loved one this week. Funerals are never easy, but the dreariness of a rainy day adds another dimension. Maybe the sky is weeping over the loss of this one who loved fiercely and battled cancer so valiantly. Or perhaps rain is a reminder of rejuvenation, of new beginnings, of eternal life.
Refreshed
After rain the air is clean and cool. The sky is bright, cleansed, and shining. Just as a shower cleanses our physical bodies, washing away dirt and sweat, so refreshing comes to our spiritual lives through prayer and confession.
Each week, as I sing in the choir, and listen to God’s word, I am refreshed, ready to face a new week and any challenges it holds.
Reinvigorated
When I returned from the beach I was dismayed to discover the plants in my hanging basket were limp and near death. I watered the plants before leaving, and placed the basket in the shade, but that wasn’t enough to sustain it while I was away. With careful watering, and then days of rain, the plants revived, invigorated, refreshed, and restored.
Sometimes life is heavy, leaving us feeling limp and hopeless, but with rest and spiritual nourishment, we gain vigor for what lies ahead and renew forward motion.
Restored
A spot in the yard, near the road, beside the driveway wilts readily. It’s the place where the irrigation spray doesn’t quite reach and the afternoon sun shines the most intensely. No matter how much care I give it, by summer’s end, this place in the yard morphs into dry thatch. However, with a few hours of rain, tiny patches of green reappear, restored by water on thirsty soil.
We all experience seasons when we feel weary, burned and withered by the intensity of life and its struggles. Yet restoration and refreshment come through the encouragement and affirmation of friends and family, greening our souls as we remember God’s faithfulness and blessings.
Reminders
As I pulled out of my neighborhood this morning on my way to the gym, I looked to the left and saw a swath of color painted against gray clouds. A rainbow, a lasting reminder of God’s promises and love.
When I entered the gym, one of the first people I saw said, “I didn’t know we were going to have rain of ark proportions this week!” How faithfully God impressed on me again a reminder of his promises.
When Noah and his family entered the ark, they had no idea it would be their home for a year. Surely there were days when they wished the rain would end and they could escape the confines of a smelly, animal-filled boat.
Likewise, we don’t know the length of our life’s journey or what twists, turns, detours, joys, and sorrow are ahead for us. At times, trials seem to multiply to a point it is too much to bear. Yet we have the assurance that God will faithfully keep his promises, no matter what hurdles we encounter, and walk with us through stormy seasons and beyond.
“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him, and he will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring” (Hosea 6:3 LB).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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