Lessons from a Rainstorm

by Sarah
from Virtuous Daughters, February 2016~Volume 15, Number 11

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2

“And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:2

On Tuesday morning, it was raining nicely right as I was leaving for school. Mommy made sure I was equipped with boots, a raincoat, and an umbrella, so I’d stay nice and dry. I had the radio on in the car as I was driving. When I was exiting the freeway to get to my school, the wind and rain were quite overwhelming. I slowed down even more as I drove through the puddles and while the wind played with my car’s balance. I was almost to school when I heard an announcement on the radio that there was a tornado watch for right where I was! My heart started beating fast and I asked God for help and protection. I had not received an e-mail or notification from either of my teachers, so I presumed we’d still have class that day.

At my school, there is a parking epidemic—meaning it is very difficult on a typical day to find a parking spot, depending on when you show up. There was hardly a car in the parking lot as I pulled in!  To me it felt like I was in the middle of a hurricane as I opened my car door and popped my trunk lid. I then got out of the car to grab my backpack out of the trunk. It was so windy that it was hard to shut the trunk lid and it was also a little difficult to breathe. It didn’t feel like what was happening was actually real.

When I was about to start walking to class (at this point I was already drenched), I contemplated whether it would be safer to get back in my car and wait for the rain to stop or to scurry to a building. I decided that a tornado would be more likely to tear up my car than a large building, so I began my long trek towards the Building where both of my classes are held. I sloshed through a couple of inches of water as I walked across the soccer field. Then it began to hail. It was difficult to see. 

All of a sudden, I started to sing. I don’t remember what song I sang, but I know it was God’s Holy Spirit leading the singing. I was reciting Scripture and just happy that I was in my Father’s hands. I smiled and knew that if Jesus took me home right then, I was ready. I told God it would be a good time for Him to take me home in a whirlwind—literally.

Now I didn’t sit down and write all this to make y’all see how “spiritual” I am. If I did, I would get my reward now rather than in heaven. On the contrary, I am a very filthy, wicked, wretched rascal, desperately in need of God’s mercy because of my sin and selfish pride. This is blatant, but if we are honest, each of us would come to the same conclusion.  I wanted to show you what a great God we have—a loving Father. I really need to brag on Him more. He sees my dry heart, my hatred towards others, and bitterness towards life and what He has called me to do. Matthew 24:12 says that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Jesus sees how coldness and dryness and insensitivity to His Word can be so devastating in my life.

So He sends us rain. Just how every hair and skin cell on my body was completely drenched by the rain (no, raincoats don’t always work! ), God wants to move us into joy and fellowship with Him through revival. We have quenched his Holy Spirit (1Thessalonians 5:19) and limited Him in our lives (Psalm 78:41). He wants to pour out His Word in our hearts and have our soul react to Him (preferably in love), similar to how my body reacted by shivering from being soaked by the rain. Jesus can transform my life if I allow Him to. This might mean getting out of my comfort zone.

Now to finish the story: I was almost to my building when a nice girl had me get under her umbrella with her. I hadn’t even tried to open my umbrella because I was afraid it would fly away. I walked into my building and stood stunned for a few seconds. I then trotted to the restroom where I emptied some of the water in my boots into the sink! I could’ve made a home for goldfish inside my boots! My hair was ratty and messy and I just looked pitiful. God definitely used this situation to humble me.

During class, I was very cold and I wanted someone to lend me a jacket. Nobody gave me a coat, but then again, I didn’t ask for one.  I realized how much I think about myself and forget about poor people around me who don’t have warm clothes, but they’re always outside—rain or dry. Do I really care? Or I have I been hardened by my desire to build my own kingdom? It’s NOT all about me.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isaiah 41:17-18

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

​Together, let’s look to our Savior for grace and strength to walk closely with him. His faithfulness will carry us.