Beautiful Rain

As I sit here in my room, I hear the beautiful rain falling outside my window. I can hear drops on the window pane, drops forming puddles outside, and drops of rain hitting the gutter above my window. It's so peaceful, like a nighttime lullaby compliments of God Himself. Listening to the rain outside also takes me back to times in my life when I've heard rain just the same, and experienced its calming effects.

About 2 years to the day, I was in the middle of nowhere Southern Nepal with a mission team. We were in a courtyard looking area surrounded by tin roof shacks at the base of a Hindu temple. A pastor on our team got up and shared a gospel message along with invitation to accept Christ at the end - to about 300 young Hindus. While I can't remember the exact number, approximately 50 or more Hindus accepted Christ that night. Just after the invitation and prayer, the Nepali police showed up. This was a time in Nepal when they had just been granted religious freedom 2-3 years prior, so religious sensitivity was still high. Some Hindus were insulted by the message, some were intrigued, some were completely moved by the gospel, and others seemed to have no response. However, when the police arrived, it was clear we needed to leave the area. As we walked to the car at a fast pace, it began to rain. I remember sitting in the van that night with my team hearing the rain outside and on the roof of the rickety van, and marveling at God's timing. These people who just heard the life changing message of Jesus Christ could not stand outside and carry on with any parties, they were forced by the rain to retreat to their "homes" (a mere tin roof shanty) and provided the opportunity to contemplate the gospel message they had just heard. How beautiful God-given rain is!

While in Cambodia sitting in an orphanage of 60 children, the rain began to fall. We all had to rush into the multi-purpose room, which resembled a screened in patio, to take shelter. It was there we were able to play games, bond, talk about our lives - sharing our lives together, and exchange smiles over relating to each other. As we heard the delicate drops of rain hit the roof, we were protected by a loving God and felt His joy over His daughters and sons delighting in Him. Our only common ground was God Himself and taking shelter from the rain, it couldn't have been more beautiful.

In August of 1992, I was huddled in my house with my family and pet dog in the midst of a category 5 hurricane named Andrew. Not only did we hear a massive amount of rain falling outside, but enormous amounts of wind and thunder. However, in the midst of the sweet rain, I cherished moments of drawing close to my family like an indoor camping adventure. With the storm raging and many losing their homes, we survived by God's grace.

So, big deal, rain.....what's the point? Well, my point is, I've learned to praise God for the rain. In the rain, beauty emerges. Peace emerges. Grace emerges. He often uses the rain to wash us away what is unclean, even if that rain comes in the form of His precious blood at times in our lives. We praise Him in the rain. Rain can be meant to ruin our fun or bring us down, but when we look closer, we can see how a storm must come before the beautiful clear skies emerge. Rain storms are used to nourish what needs nourishing, strengthen crops, cool the heat, and at times, tear down what needs to be rebuilt. God uses rain to renew. Through the rain stained windows, look beyond it, and trust that God has a purpose for the rain. He gives and He takes away, even our rainy seasons. What is God teaching you through the rain?

Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. - Zacheriah 10:1, NIV

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. - Luke 8:24, NIV

Have you ever asked God for rain? For me, I've asked God for renewal in my life, and He has often used rainy seasons of life to bring renewal, sweet beautiful renewal. And when God's purpose for the rain is complete, He rebukes the storm and all is calm. Not only is it calm, but it is often more radiant than before. If you are in a season where the storm tears down, the beauty is that what is torn down is often rebuilt to be more strong and beautiful than before. I believe this stands true for our own lives and hearts. When we feel the storms of this life have torn us down and the rain doesn't seem to be slowing or stopping, we can be confident that what is built after the rain storm will not only be stronger but it will reflect God's radiant beauty more than before. Praise Him for the rain!