When the Rain Comes

I don’t know about where you live, but here in Ohio, we have had the most brutal and depressing spring that I can ever remember. Up until about a week ago, it felt like it rained every single day! There were only a few days in the months of April and May that were sunny.

It got to the point where I was starting to feel really depressed. It was hard to be happy when everything was so gray and muddy. I was tired of being indoors, going stir crazy. I was tired of dealing with our flooded yard and high grass that we couldn’t mow because the lawn was so wet.

Along with the gross weather, I have been feeling sick since the beginning of April. I’m pretty sure it’s allergies, because I don’t think a cold can last for 6 weeks. Ha! I was constantly congested, my eyes were itchy and watery, and I would have random, violent coughing fits that would leave me unable to breathe.

Needless to say, this has NOT been a fun spring. Not in the least.

But this week, things started to change. We’ve still had a few thunderstorms, but for the most part, it’s been sunny and beautiful. Along with the better weather, my allergy symptoms seem to be getting better.

I noticed something funny sometime around Wednesday: I had never in my life felt so happy and excited about the weather. I had never felt so appreciative and thankful for the warmth of the sunshine before.

I have looked at this week as such a precious blessing! I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much if I hadn’t gone through all those days and days of rain.

Life is the same way. Sometimes it’s just not fun, and circumstances can be depressing. But if we didn’t go through the storms, how could we fully enjoy the sunshine? God’s blessings are so much sweeter to us after a period of “rain” in our lives.

As much as it hurts sometimes, I am ultimately thankful for the storms that God has walked me through, and is walking me through right now. I think about the day when the rain will stop, the clouds will part, and rays of sunshine will break through. That sunshine will mean so much more to me than it would have if I hadn’t endured the storm.

I love the Song “When the Rain Comes” by Third Day. This part hit close to home the last time I heard it:

“When the rain comes you blame it on the things that you have done. When the storm fades, you know that rain must fall on everyone. Rest awhile, it’ll be all right. No one loves you like I do. I can’t stop the rain from falling down on you again. I can’t stop the rain, but I will hold you ‘til it goes away.”

If the sun is shining on you today, don’t forget to praise God! I’m sure you have probably gone through a storm of your own not too long ago (my pastor always says you’re either about to enter one, you’re in the middle of one, or you just got over one). So praise God that He brought you through it to a place of beauty!

And if you are in the middle of the storm, know that God is using it to make you stronger, and to pull you closer to Him. And as soon as the storm ends, you are about to witness something amazing, and you’re going to appreciate it so much more. You can’t have a rainbow without the rain!