It's Raining Again - HomeWord - January 8, 2016

It’s Raining Again
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt

The rains came down, the streams rose, the winds blew and beat against the house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. —Matthew 7:25

I have a friend who I talk with on the phone regularly. He always reports in, “It’s 75 degrees and sunny here.” He lives in California, and it’s always the same report. During my decade of living in Washington state, I would often reply, “It’s 50 and raining. Again.” At the time we lived in Olympia, WA where annually the climate averages 164 days of rain, 229 predominantly cloudy days, and only 52 mostly sunny days each year. Ducks and fish seemed happy there, but my mood often matched the cloudy and damp weather.

I am reminded that somewhere, everywhere, people are experiencing rainy seasons, not made of weather, but of life and soul. Life isn’t working out the way they had hoped. The storms of life have poured pain and despair, and the forecast isn’t changing. Prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, unheeded.

Jesus implies that the storms of life are inevitable. We all experience these seasons. While we can’t change the “weather,” we can be prepared to handle the rainy seasons of the heart that come our way.

Jesus said that we weather the storms of life by listening to what He commands and by obeying Him. He likened this to a house being built on a rock instead of on sand.He said that those who follow Him in this way are wise. By contrast, those who do not, Jesus calls foolish. This is simple, and yet profound. It is Christ-following 101.

Further, even if we aren’t the ones being rained on, we can come alongside those who are through our prayer, encouragement, and support. We can make a difference in their lives through our involvement. It may not seem like much, but to those who are struggling, it’s like giving the gift of sunshine on a rainy day, to know that they do not face hardships alone.

Today, wherever your find yourself, remember that for someone, it’s raining again. Your response to Christ and to others can bring a ray of sunshine into the face of the storm.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How does following Christ help you when you find yourself facing the storms of life?

2. What can you do today to help someone you know who is in the midst of life’s storms?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 7:24-27; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; Galatians 6:2 

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