A few weeks ago, we had an abundance of rain every day. After a while, I just got used to hearing the rainfall throughout the night and the daytime. When the sun finally appeared, which is the day I wrote this post, I welcomed it with a smile. But, I have been around long enough to know that we won’t always have sunny days, so we have to learn to accept the rainy days too. Have you ever thought about rain having a purpose? What is the goal of rain on the natural side? Rain is essential to life on Earth. Rain is a significant component of our water cycle. Without water, we could not survive for long.

Now let’s look at rain in another way in terms of relationships. We all love it when everything in our life is going well. Those are our sunny days. Most of the time, we don’t complain about those days, nor do we want the sun to stop shining. Sometimes when it rains so hard, we say it’s raining cats and dogs, and we want the rain to stop. We alone don’t have the power to prevent rainfall. But, when I am out driving in a hard rain, especially on the highway, I petition God for relief by saying, “The wind and the waves obeyed His will. Peace be still.” It works. Try it.

My point is that when rain showers of hurt, pain, or disappointment come my way, my relief comes by seeking God’s help. I have also come to know that when I survive a hard rainfall, it produces growth within me. Just like flowers and plants and fruit trees, etc. need the rain along with the sun to grow. All sun and no rain will not produce quality fruit. It causes a drought, which can lead to devastation. If God gave us all good days, there would be less of a need to pray, and most likely, our prayer life would diminish. But, when the rain and the floods and the storms blow our way, they push us toward God. The closer we stay to God, the more we can grow.

Let’s learn not always to say as my granddaughter does sometimes when it’s raining hard, “Rain, rain go away and come another day.” More rain, more growth, if we can stand the rain. Our growth will eventually give us more joy in our sunny days. Isn’t that what we want- to enjoy the sunshine. Let’s appreciate the rainy days, those days that don’t give us immediate joy or satisfaction. Those days that make us sometimes wonder what’s going on. Why me? Rain serves a purpose. It may ruin your hairstyle if you are out in it. It may cause cancellation of some activities, but when the sun shines again, it gives you an opportunity for thankfulness. Appreciate how God uses our less than beautiful experiences to mold and shape us into more exceptional beings if we can continue to stand on His word, His promises, and the knowledge of His love divine towards us. It took me a while to appreciate my trials, but I understand without them, I would not have developed into the person I am today, and I wouldn’t be able to encourage you to hold on to God’s hand and let you know if He did it for me, He can do it for you. What will He do? Whatever you need Him to do within His will for your life.

Sunny days-your not required every day, but when you come, I am grateful. When God gave me this topic a few weeks ago, there was no mention of the Coronavirus in the United States. Today we are faced with a pandemic. It is genuinely a cloudy time for us, but I know with assurance that the sun will shine again. We will make it through this rainy season. Be prayerful, and stay safe. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 4:16-17. I’ll be back next week with a new post, “When God Throws the Towel Back!”

Be encouraged, and God bless!

Sister Jackie