Growing up we would spend a lot of time at my Granny's place at White Lake. Storms came up pretty quick in the afternoons. If there was no thunder or lightening we could stay in the water. My cousins and I would yell, "quick, go under so you won't get wet!" We thought that was so funny and I have no idea why I remember that. But if I am in or near any water and it starts to rain I think of that and it makes me smile. One of my favorite pictures of my girls is them in their bathing suits playing in the rain. What wonderful memories! We could have been sad that we had to go inside but we chose to have fun.
After a lot of rain, I am still having to choose to look at things differently because I want to be outside. But I have learned to have great expectations from the rain. As I often say, God waters my flowers better than anything I could do! Isaiah 55: 10, "As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater..." I bet if this was years ago we would love the rain because we would know that we needed it for our crops. Rain is going to fall but our creation will flourish!
As soon as a rain storm is over, I run outside with great expectations to see how my flowers look. And they ALWAYS look so much better! Sometimes I think we have had too much rain but God uses it all. Just like the storms of life, He will use it all. We have to trust God! Will we trust God to use our suffering to make us more like Him or will we become bitter? God may be using this trial to purify and refine us. Let's keep rejoicing in Him, expecting great things from the storm! Romans 5: 3-5, "Not only so, but 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."
God has given us His grace to overcome all situations. 2 Corinthians 2:14, "But thanks be to God,who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. permeate every fiber of your being today: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” What storm in your life is Jesus speaking, “Peace. Be still”? Mark 4: 39, "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,“Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." When you have anxious thoughts, remember Jesus will calm that storm. He "rebuked the wind...and there was a great calm."
Let's be like kids and make the most of each moment, even during the storms of life. Those who have learned to persevere through the storms of life are those who can dance in the rain! I like the quote, "anyone who says that only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain." Rain is going to fall but we will flourish! Expect great things!
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