Last night I couldn't sleep. I had 101 things buzzing round my head and I didn't know what to do with them. I tried cataloguing them away in the back of my head; things that urgently need prayer, things that can wait, things I need to do, things I need to say, people I need to confront, people I need to forgive, people I need to talk to... you get the idea. Anyway, it wasn't working. It got to 3am and I was still laying in bed, tossing and turning. As I was laying there, the house entirely silent, all I could hear was the rain, and it was POURING. Now people usually associate the rain with sadness, Eeyore style.
I don't really know what made me want to photograph it... I'm a photographer, what can I say?! And I also have no idea why people in the house across the path were also awake, but hey, this was the scene.
It was very dark and very rainy and very windy.
Now there is a lot of verses in the bible that talk about rain, in both positive and negative lights. But the way I see it, rain isn't sent as a sign of sadness. Yeah, as humans we don't necessarily like it, but what if we started seeing it as a blessing instead of an inconvenience? A promise instead of a punishment? New life instead of destruction?
Listening to the rain made me stop thinking about all that was troubling me and concentrate on God. I didn't come to any kind of conclusion at 3am, but I did fall asleep because I stopped worrying and rested in his presence.
I woke at 7am and looked out the window again. This was the scene:
It was beautiful. Through the rain drop covered glass there was a glorious morning arising, the promise of love and new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Feeling all warm and fuzzy inside (Jesus style), I fell back to sleep and woke up at 9am, again, I looked out my window:
The sun shining beautiful warmth through my room, and the rain had almost completely dried.
Now this may sound mad, but I really felt like that was God saying:
1. Rest in my presence- its the best place to be.
2. Let go, I've got you.
3. This rain isn't to emphasise your sorrow, its to bring new harvest and bring blessings. (The bible talks about the heavens opening and dropping rain at the presence of God (Psalm 68:8).)
4. Do not worry (Matthew 6:34)
5. Through the rain comes promises of a new tomorrow, new love, and new mercies.
6. It's not forever, the sun is coming to bring warmth and spring new life.
7. I know what you need and I will provide. (Philippians 4:19, Jeremiah 29:11)
8. I love you.
I know that this is relevant to a lot of people, if not everyone. I guess the message I'm trying to put across is this:
Listen out for the rain. Not necessarily literally, but spiritually and emotionally too. When it feels like its raining in life, think not about the negatives, but about the blessings and promises to come. Through the rain stained window, new mercies are arising. God has got you. Rest in his presence, do not worry, embrace the rain;
HE
LOVES
YOU.
"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it." - Isaiah 45:8
"May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth." - Psalm 72:6
"In the light of a king's face is life, And his favour is like a cloud with the spring rain." - Proverbs 16:15
