After the rain

Personal Photo: On Monday, I snapped this photo of our rose bush. The entire thing was covered in tiny water droplets from the rain and it made a spectacular site. Because of the rain, this rose bloomed into a lovely, vibrant, healthy flower. We are not so different, and God's nourishment makes us new and clean every day!

I was walking down Main Street in Adrian, Michigan earlier this week, trying to keep my glasses from getting sprinkled from the rain. Almost no one was out and about, and I couldn't help but consider the weather a strong contributor to the fact. I was on my way to a little antique shop, on the hunt for some hidden treasure that people had abandoned and put on a shelf for a few bucks. On my way, I took in my surroundings: A lawyer's office, a tattoo parlor, a restaurant, a clothes boutique, a gift shop. My eyes snagged on the gift shop and with little further thought, I darted inside. Upon entry, the shop was empty except for one other shopper, who was checking out with her purchases. I took my time and perused the different tables full of handmade coffee mugs, water bottle stickers, soaps, and socks. I picked out a few things and checked out. Back out into the rain.

Yes, I did find my way eventually to the antique shop, but found very little there. I walked out with only two items, a small glass lamp and a medium sized basket, but while I walked back to my car, I couldn't help but find myself enjoying the sound of tires on the wet streets, the reflection of the lights from the shops on the sidewalk, the feeling of cool rain on my cheeks.

The rain had chased so many people inside on the day that I walked around, and I was so grateful to be outside at the time that the showers started up again. Rain is a funny thing, isn't it? Most of us wish the rain away, find it gloomy and clammy, but the way my steps felt lighter, and the breeze lightened up my mood, I let myself jump down the rabbit hole of why rain can be celebrated, why it can make us feel so refreshed.

Quite contrary to the negative feelings towards rain, the reality is that rain is a powerful symbol and a necessity. Without it, no species can survive, and the relief of getting some showers on fields of crops after a long drought is nothing short of complete and utter gratitude. Leviticus 26:4 states "then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit." We can all rest in the promise that God will not let us all starve by taking away the rain, and that the rain will provide enough nutrients to the crops for growth. Physical growth requires physical rain, and all throughout the Bible, we can see how God brings the rain at just the right time for His people. Trusting in the coming of the rain, trusting in the Lord to provide for us can be a test of faith, which is is why when we are blessed with rain, it is something to celebrate, for we can be sustained because of it.

When we think about rain, it is important that we also consider how God provides the right nutrients for us as the right time too. The ways in which God promises rain for the land and trees to be able to bear fruit, He makes the same promise to us in Hosea 6:3, which reads "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." God will shower us with the nutrients we need to be able to grow, not to wither up and die. In this way, the actual physical rain is a beautiful thing, but so is the spiritual rain of the Lord working in our lives. This verse explains that God will be near us, that He will refresh us and bring us the nourishment we need to be able to carry out the plans He has in place for each of us.

Rain not only provides the nutrients for life, but it also cleanses. Rain can wash away dirt and grime, can make things lush and new. In the same way, we need God's word and His grace to wash away our sins. 1 John 1:9 claims "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Clean. This is what we all yearn for, to be clean. God does this, He cleanses us, He washes away all of our dirt and grime, our regrets and mistakes, our shame and our pride. He makes us new. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are therefore seen as clean in the Lord's eyes when we come to Him with repentance. It changes our perspective of rain, doesn't it? When we can appreciate how we are spiritually cleansed because of Christ, we can be reminded of the gift of salvation every time it rains.

While we often experience seasons of rain and sporadic storms, the best thing about the cleansing rain of the Lord is that it washes our spirits daily, which is identified in Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." This verse explains how God never gets tired of forgiving His repentant and faithful children, and His love renews us daily. We can wake up every morning and accept the gift of salvation once more. In this way, we can rejoice that God is not hesitant in cleansing us from our sins, from washing away the stains that we acquire through life. He makes us new!

Rain is a beautiful symbol of cleansing us, and representative of relief after a drought in not only the world we live in, but in our own personal lives. God's rain on our souls is refreshing, it is renewing, it is restoring. And after the rain, we find ourselves growing, getting closer to Him. When we nourish ourselves with the Almighty Word of the Lord, we are therefore able to grow in our spiritual journey, and in our earthly one. The title of this article is 'After the rain' because what really matters is what we do with the nourishment, the blessings, the cleansing that God has given us. If we fail to focus on how that leads to change, how that leads to growth, then we are missing how we can share the glory of God and become a vessel for Him. Hosea 10:12 commands us to “Break new ground. Plant righteousness, and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.” It’s time to seek the Lord! When He comes, He will rain righteousness on you.” This verse takes this article and turns it into an action item for each of us. Not only can we rejoice with the truth that physical rain and spiritual rain are gifts from our Heavenly Father, but we can also take that knowledge, take the results from the nourishment that He provides and share it with others, use it to bring Him glory, represent His love the very best we can. The rain is worth celebrating my friends, and trusting in the Lord to bring about cleansing, relief, and nutrients is a wonderful act of faith!