Let it Rain

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; with the lyre celebrate our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, makes grass sprout on the mountains…” Psalms 147: 7-8

Do you ever notice that people (including you and me) never seem to be content with what we have or with what we are given at a certain time? Let me explain what I mean. When it is hot outside, do you complain about the heat and wish it were cooler? When it is snowing outside do you complain about the cold and wish it were warmer? When it is dry and the vegetation is dying do you complain that we need rain? And when it rains, do you complain that you wish it wasn’t so wet?

If you are like me, you probably do at least some of the time. Why do we do this? Partly because we are selfish and we have listened too much to the culture which preaches that comfort is our highest calling. So when we get uncomfortable, we complain. Sometimes right away and sometimes loudly. We even get angry about it—as if there is anything we can do about the weather or most circumstances in our lives. But another reason is that we are not grateful. So we fail to miss the blessings and focus on the curse. At every moment in life, no matter what is happening to us or around us; no matter what we are going through, good or bad, there is ALWAYS someone in the world who has it better than us and there is ALWAYS someone that has it worse than us. Always.

The problem is that we tend to see the people who have it better than us and fail to see those who have it worse than us. And when we do this we can never be grateful. So when it rains—it spoils our day or our plans, or makes life more difficult for us. When it snows we see only the extra work it will take to get to school or to work. What would happen, I wonder, if in each of the circumstances of life we found ourselves content and grateful? What if we saw the blessings of the rain, or the sunshine, or the snow? And what if we saw the blessings in one another? In those that bother us? In those who are hurting or prideful? In those that hate us?

What if instead of always complaining, we saw God’s hand in all situations and in all circumstances?  Let it rain, Lord. And if it is not enough, so be it. And if it is too much, so be it. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the rain and the sunshine and the situation and circumstance I am in right now. Help me to see Your hand in every moment of my life and to have the grace to be content and grateful. Amen.