I love rain.
Especially the heavy, soaking, spring rain.
The kind of rain that fills your senses and changes the season from winter to spring, turning the parched, dry, dusty soil into a wet, slippery, muddy dark earth ready for planting.
You can smell the rich, fertile ground as it thirstily drinks in the moisture,
turning the dry, dormant, crunchy grass into a dewy, green, lush grass of spring.
The birds sing as the raindrops drip heavily from the trees which are just beginning to bud after a long, cold winter of bare branches.
The air smells sweet of fresh, cool rain as it splashes against the window panes. I love to sit beneath the covered porch to be in the rain, surrounded by the new life it brings, close enough to feel the occasional misting as the rain turns on the breeze.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,” Isaiah 55:10
As I watch the thirsty, dry earth soak in the life-giving moisture of the falling rain I think about my spirit. At times I am parched, dry and thirsty…..I need the life-giving rain of God’s spirit to soak into my being and fill me once again with fresh, new life.
I can’t do it on my own. I often resist it….I’m not sure why…..we all know you can’t pour from an empty cup….yet I still try to do everything with my own strength.
Since Covid restrictions ended it has been difficult getting back into a routine and that includes the church. For us, it is a new church in a new city, which makes it even more challenging since we have no previous relationships there.
But for the last few weeks, we have committed to attending. And I have been blessed beyond measure. As I stand and sing praises to my God, the tears flow like rain as my thirsty soul soaks in the fresh, dewy rain of God’s presence into my parched soul.
I am reminded of God’s faithfulness, even when I am faithless.
Of His love even when I feel unlovable.
Of His mercy even when I don’t deserve mercy.
Of His comfort when I feel alone.
Of His peace when I feel anxious.
“ May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.” Psalm 72:6
As I stand and sing, the tears flow down my face and drip off my chin, but I don’t care. My heart fills with joy as I sing praises to the one who made me, who knows me, and who loves me unconditionally.
Like sweet, cool, refreshing rain refreshing the earth, I am filled to overflowing and feel refreshed, calm and peaceful as I return to everyday life with the knowledge that the well of God never runs dry but is ready and able to rain on me when my soul is parched and thirsty.
All I have to do is be willing to show up.
And surrender to the rain.
(Originally written May 2022)
