When It Rains, It Pours

Here in Alabama, it has been raining. A lot. For the past four days I have felt like I live in Washington state, except here, it's 70 degrees one day and 25 degrees the next. Short sleeves one day, bulky sweaters the next.

Outside, people are sporting rain jackets, boots, and umbrellas. You can't take a step without splashing in a mud puddle. The sky is a solid layer of white. Not a tint of blue to be found. Just cold, wet, and what some would call miserable outside.

I was looking at the forecast earlier and finally saw hope. Friday, the sun is supposed to pop out and make a grand appearance and actually stay around a few days. Everyone I talk to seems to be sick of the rain and will welcome the sunshine with open arms and closed umbrellas. The count down is on...just a few more days.

The weather outside has made me think about the weather changes that go on within our hearts. I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time I heard or read the statement about proverbial rain,  "When it rains it pours."

Isn't that how things can happen in life? In Alabama we say, "If it ain't one thing, it's another" or one that makes me giggle, "If it ain't one thing, it's your mother."  Seems like if your car breaks down, you also have a leaky roof on the same week you gained five pounds AND to top things off, you got an unexpeted bill in the mail or had a confrontation with a friend or family member.  It's not just raining, it's pouring.

But, just as we have hope that the sun will shine on Friday of this week, we can have hope that God will one day reign again on this earth. And those of us who know Him will be with Him where every day will be perfect. No pain, no sorrow, no strife, no clouds. We know not the day nor the hour, but we can rest in peace knowing that He is coming (Matthew 24:42)

Until He comes to us or we go to Him, we can protect ourselves from the elements of this world by covering ourselves with and living under the umbrella of the Holy Spirit. We can clothe ourselves in a jacket of faith and trust in God's goodness, grace, and mercy. We  can slide our feet into the rain boots of the Word to repel the enemy's plan and walk out our destiny and purpose rain or shine.  And we can have hope that the Son is coming. The countdown is on.