“I’m going for a run. It’s a little overcast, so it shouldn’t be too hot” I said. I started out walking and thought, I’ll walk to the park then I’ll run. However, about 5 blocks from the park I can see a wall of rain. It didn’t seem to be moving. I decided if I wanted a run, I should run in the other direction. After about 7 blocks, I heard lightning. I kept running. Then, I heard it again, but this time it was closer and it started to lightly rain. I figured I should probably turn back and head for home.                                                       

 As I was running towards home the skies opened up. It started pouring. I tucked my phone in a spot I thought would get the least wet and ran. I picked up my speed and headed for home. 

When I got home, I was reminded that rain is vital to life. Because rain is vital to growth. In the same way, the rainy season in our spiritual life are vital for our growth! Without rain the grass, the plants the things we enjoy and eat will not grow! When it rains we cannot do the things we normally enjoy. You can’t go outside to the beach or have a picnic or go swimming. But in our rainy season, we learn to appreciate those things more. You learn to enjoy the people as opposed to the activities. We learn to quiet our minds and hearts and be completely vulnerable to God. We can tell him our disappointments. We can tell Him our hurt. We can tell Him where we feel we are falling short and want to go. God can handle our honesty. I once read, “God cares more about your one honest prayer than one thousand fake ones” I used to feel bad for telling God how I really thought or felt. The crazy thing is, God already knows! He wants us to bring everything to Him- the good the bad and the ugly! And what better time to do that than in our rainy season! 

Our rainy seasons may be filled all kinds of things like: a loss of a dream, a place, job, spouse, or friend. It may be disappointment with yourself or others, it may be expectations that we haven’t met. Each rainy season is unique to us. But I want to remind myself and you that it is in the rainy season that we can grow! It is in our rainy season that God is preparing us for something thing new. And my friends, when God sees fit, you can be sure that He will dry up the sky and allow the sun to shine; just like He will dry your tears and send you out again! 

So if you’re in a rainy season, embrace it. Make the most of the time and the people around you. This season will not last forever, but it is vital for your benefit and mine! 

You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?Psalm 56:8

He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your NEW wine and your oil. Deuteronomy 11:14

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation USEFUL to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; Hebrews 6:7

The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:12