I Can't Stand The Rain

   ...against my window.  Okay, I know a lot of people won't get that reference but I couldn't resist.

     There's something incredibly interesting about rain.  It's necessary for absolutely everything in the world to survive.  Animals, well people as well, will traverse crazy obstacles and long distances to find this live giving liquid.  For me to find water I usually just have to go to my fridge or at worst, my sink.  In fact, in most cases I don't go out into rain unless I need to and when I do I of course wear my raincoat and I don't linger any longer than I have to.  I walk straight to my truck then straight to my office.

     We know we need water to survive but when it comes we run from it or at least seek cover form it?  Why is that?  Why, if rain is life, do we not stay there?

     I think the same is true of God too often, for me at least.  We pray for God to show up and move.  We plead for Him to do something in our lives, homes, churches, communities, and nation.  Guess what, God has a tendency to show up when we ask Him too.  Oddly enough, it seems too often that we're surprised when He does.  We run, hide, or seek cover.  Much like rain we need God as our source of life and much like rain, we too often want to avoid God's presence.

     We should pray for God to move.  We want God to show up and change our hearts, minds, and lives.  I don't think that's what we need to learn.  I think we need to learn to expect God to show up when we ask.  I think we need to learn to stay in Him when He does show up.  To stand in the rain as it were.  Yes, I'll be the first to admit it's uncomfortable at times but for us to have life and especially life to the fullest, He is that source.

     May we, or really may I, learn to stand in the rain of God's presence when He shows up knowing He's working in me and making me more like Jesus.

Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash