The Gift of the Heavy Rains

The other day as my husband, Jerry, and I were driving down the gravel driveway that links our “Little House Nestled in the Big Woods” with the rest of the world, we came upon a scene that was so sweet, we had to stop. For in the ditch that runs parallel with our road, filled with the runoff of a much recent rain, were about thirty happy birds twittering and splashing around. Delighted for my feathered friends, as I watched them, I began to sense a lesson the Lord did not want me to miss.

Seemingly oblivious to all that was around them, those birds were frolicking in the gift God had sent in the heavy rains. You can watch a video of it here. 

How often we miss out on the care our Heavenly Father sends our way! Whether it’s because of the torrential downpours of circumstance that soak our lives, blinding us to the blessings staring us in the face, or that we get so tangled up in knots trying to fix the problems that reside in ourselves, our families, friends, and even the entire world, we choke the life out of the promises God makes.

How many times do we feel forgotten even though the Lord says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)?

How often do we carry the weight of worthlessness even though God tells us, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26 ESV)?

How much do we rush in and not wait for God to act when He tells us, “Be still and know I am God” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)?

For all of the above and far more than I want to admit, I find myself fluttering around in faithlessness when I step in to save or repair myself and the lives of others.

In the past, I have too often made the mistake of trying to right what is wrong. If it’s loneliness, the answer is obvious. Fill the void. Worthlessness, by doing good deeds. Instead of waiting on God to lead, I rush in with the solution. After all, don’t I know what’s best?

What I am finally beginning to learn is, it is more excellent to stop and pray. What is best for everyone, myself included, is to spend time with the Lord seeking Him first and foremost. (See Matthew 6:33.)

The power of prayer is an unbelievable gift from God. Too often untapped though, it is seen as a last resort. If we truly believed that God hears and acts on our requests, wouldn’t we be more active in the arena of prayer than in trying to be the one who swoops in to save the day?

My take home is this ~

Pray first and pray more.

Only God can knead into our hearts and lives, the gift of coming to Him first before striking out on a path of what we think is best. He knows how prone we are to leave Him out of the equations we face.

The Bible also tells us to pray without ceasing and to pray about everything. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6.) What a blessing that can be to ourselves and to others.

And finally, the Lord teaches us to give thanks in every circumstance and in everything. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:18.) As hard as that can be, it is a sacrifice of praise. When we do that, we begin to see the blessings in both the good and bad that come our way. Like those dear creatures that soar with the wind, we too, can learn to see the gifts hidden in the heavy rains.

In God’s grace, all things are possible.

Heavenly Father, help us to pray. In the good and the bad, remind us to come to You. Help us to remember that Your way is best, not our own. And help us to walk humbly in Your will. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Kimberly

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 ESV