Several years ago our family went on vacation to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It was a beautiful spring day and we were wearing shorts and sandals as we meandered along the dusty streets of the historic area of town. The historic core is set up as an1860 era town, and staff work in costume doing their daily activities as if they lived in that time period.
As my daughter, her friend and I were enjoying the sights of the village and shops, it started to rain. Initially it was a gentle rain, so we quickly took shelter under a verandah of one of the old buildings. However, soon it started to settle into a hard, heavy downpour that showed no signs of letting up. We had no jackets and no umbrellas, but we decided that we needed to get back to our car or stay all day under
roof. At first we ran laughing from tree to tree and from porch to porch like little rabbits. But it was soon evident we were getting quite soaked!
Finally I said, “Well, if we can’t escape it we might as well enjoy it!” And I started to splash in the puddles. The girls quickly caught on and we slowed to a leisurely walk along the road in the pouring rain, rivers of water running down our faces, our hair plastered to our heads. We were soon soaked through to the skin as we skipped along, laughing all the way back to the car. This became one of the best memories of our time together and one we still laugh about years later.
“Rejoice always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
Sometimes in life an unsuspecting torrential downpour of circumstances comes flooding into our lives without warning. We can experience health issues, financial trouble, relationship strife.
We can’t control our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them. We can lament the rain, or we can dance in the puddles. We can huddle in the safety of a temporary shelter or we can face the storm and laugh. We can choose to embrace joy.
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you).” (John 16:33 - Amplified Bible)
God is with us. He loves us. He has promised not to leave us or forsake us so we can give thanks in all circumstances. Even in the rain.
