Unexpected Rain
The day held promise. I had managed to get on the road in record time, and traffic was light. I pulled into the parking space at work armed with a briefcase and determination to attack my long to-do list. I swung the car door open, planted my feet firmly on the pavement, and stood ready to face the day.
And then it happened. Out of nowhere. Rain. Hard rain. With no warning. Sure, it was a little cloudy, but before a heavy deluge, you expect some wind and thunder. Not on this day. Caught off guard, I ducked into the car, head first — a girl must protect her hair. Then, when the storm picked up, I sort of tucked myself into the car — in the fetal position sprawled across the front seat. I started digging for the umbrella, which was buried under mounds of junk in my bag. Frustrated, my mood quickly shifted from happy to harried. This downpour quenched my spirit.
Has it ever happened to you? You are singing a happy tune when suddenly
…you receive a phone call with gut-wrenching news
… the transmission goes out on your car while you are running an errand
…the washer decides to stop working in the middle of the rinse cycle.
How do you handle unexpected rain? So often, my soul drops to the floor in the fetal position crying out to Him — Why, Lord? Why today? What now?
This week, as I was digging “Into the Word,” my Abba Father gently reminded me that rainy days do not lack purpose. He uses the downpour to purify and strengthen our faith (I Peter 1:6-9). The Master of Wind and Rain calls us to partner with Him so that we can be a light bearer in the stormy darkness:
Remember, our Message is not about ourselves;
we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master.
All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.
It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!”
and our lives filled up with light
as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ,
all bright and beautiful.
II Corinthians 4:5-6, MSG
When we choose to look up to Him during an unexpected rain, the glory of the resurrected Christ radiates in and through us, all bright and beautiful. The watching world will see His light shine in the midst of our stormy season. The Creator God walks with me through the torrential downpour.
I would love to chat with you about how Christ has walked with as you have faced an unexpected rain. How has He been a bright and beautiful light to you in the stormy darkness? Feel free to share your heart in the comment section below.
Every Monday we will be working our way through Anne Graham Lotz’s 52-week study “Into the Word.” Hop on over to the 3dLessons4Life Blog Facebook Page to join us as we dig into God’s Word together.
Linking up with a like-minded sisters at Faith Filled Friday, Thought-Provoking Thursday, Good Morning Girls, God -Bumps and God-Incidences, Soli Deo Gloria @ Finding Heaven.and “Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday!”
As my mother use to tell us a little rain must fall to make us appreciate the good days…
Wise Momma. 🙂
Beautiful reflection, thank you. That Bible verse from the Message was right on. It really isn’t about us. This is especially good to remember when it pours. God will get us through both rain and shine. Because it is about Him! BLESSINGS!
Thanks for stopping by Mari-Anna! So good to remember that the sunshine follows the rain — thanks for including that in your comment. 🙂
I don’t like the unexpected rain! And I don’t always respond the way God wants me to. So glad I can be inspired by the godly women I meet here on the internet. Great post, Lyli! Blessings!
Thanks, Renee. I am really enjoying your vlogs on prayer — our small group is doing a study on prayer right now, so God is using you to get my attention… 🙂
Followed your link from Soli Deo Gloria…great reflection and Im glad you posted the verse from the Message, made me see it in a different light1! Blessings to you this week…
So great to connect with you, Mari. I find myself looking to the Message translation more and more lately — the word pictures really grab my attention and make me see things from a different angle…
Just this past weekend, some friends and our family hiked up into the mountains and just missed a massive storm. In my case, unexpected rain translated into “move it!”.
Great connection with the “unexpected rain” all of us face.
If only I could move fast enough! — It is good to face the rain with friends though…. I tend to laugh more than cry when I have “my crew” close by.
Thanks for stopping over at my place. Yes, a girl must protect her hair! Loved reading that passage from The Message. It really does emphasize that it’s all about Him.
What struck me about looking up during the rainstorm, is the choice not to focus on the clouds, but to look beyond, and focus on the sun, even though hidden. Great perspective, girl!
So true, Michelle. There were several SDG posts this week that dealt with God’s rain bringing refreshment — it’s all in your perspective. God is teaching me! 🙂
As I have been though more and more storms, I have learned to first seek God’s face in the situation and to thank him for whatever he is doing, because “he works all things to good, for those that love him and are called according to His purpose.”
Love that promise from Romans 8 — so comforting! 🙂
I did a bible study once that pointed out that most of the time rain/water was mentioned in the word, it was a sign of His presence. It made me think of rain so differently. Now I don’t get too upset when rain changes plans because it has purpose and He abides there.
Love that! Last night, our small group actually looked at the story of Elijah praying for rain — it made me think about how often I take God’s providential rain for granted.
I love your reflections on the unexpected 🙂 and how we react to them! Very inspiring and encouraging. I’d love to have you share this at my blog hop – definitely a message that more people need to hear and reflect on!
Paula at Welcoming Spirit
http://bit.ly/GKY57d
thanks, Paula. So nice connecting with you. 🙂
A beautiful post. I have come to realize that once I stopped the unrealistic expectation that rainy days should never happen, I was able to manage them better when they did come. In this world we will have trouble. But take heart! Like it’s that easy 🙂
It is all a matter of perspective, isn’t it. (even the added perspective of that verse in the Message translation-thank you!)
My grandma used to get excited for rainy days because she would take them as days of extra rest. That’s always stuck with me. probably because she would play board games all day with me on rainy days instead of her “work” 🙂
But even today, when the rain comes, it’s a good reminder to give my soul an extra soak. . .
beautiful post! so glad I stopped by!!
All for Him,
Nikki
Your sweet grandma was a wise woman! Life is so crazy busy — I find I have to be very purposeful about setting aside times to “soak Him all up.” — I love board games, too, by the way. Mom and I always played Parcheesi together… that was my 1st one, but now I have quite a collection.
I loved your post. You weaved your words together beautifully to describe how important trials can be to strengthen us and proclaim His glory. You are so right , it’s not about us. It’s about Him!
Thanks, Shari! Slowly, I am learning….
Oh I love the reminder that our message is not about us. How in the world is it that we are so quick to get our eyes off that reality. Thanks for sharing truth. 🙂
Trying daily to remember — I am so quick to forget