If you never send us rain....

"Some blessings come soon. Some blessings come late. And some blessings don't come until Heaven. But for those who have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ? They come." They always come.

When you look at the world, it's difficult to ignore the injustices. It's difficult to ignore the grievance, the sufferings, and the loss. It's impossible to ignore that, very often, those who deserve no harm, receive it....that those who are innocent suffer. Still, we are called, again and again, in the word of God to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4). To give thanks in all situations (1 Thes. 5:18). To never defer our hope (Prov. 13:12).

And yet? When we look at the circumstances, the poverty and hunger, the inhumanity and injustices....how can we NOT lose hope? How do we praise God and rejoice in the midst of war? of need? of loss?

The Apostle Paul said it like this...

" Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Rom. 5:1-5 (NLT)

I don't claim to know what Job felt like, watching everyone and everything he loved be taken away from him. I become angry at the imagination of children, as they go to sleep hungry in an orphanage, believing their existence is somehow a mistake. I can't imagine the pain a mother feels when she learns of the death of her child. I can hardly comprehend how some people survive when their bodies are destroyed...by bacterial meningitis, by a fiery plane crash, by cancer.....

But of one thing, I am certain. The longing of our hearts to be healed, to be saved, to be protected, to be loved, to be spared. Is only matched? By the resilience of our spirits to persevere, to find strength we never knew existed, to hold tight to the confidence that our hope will not lead to disappointment. That in the end, our God will not forsake us.

I don't know why some people suffer more than others. I don't know why some people pray for miracles that don't come, while others realize their miracles. But. I trust-- even if we feel like our canvas is covered in black paint---that we? Have yet to see the complete mural God is creating. And I hold tight to the truth that "for those who embrace the gospel of  Jesus Christ? Blessings. will. come"

I am constantly humbled by---and immensely grateful for--- the resilience of others. I often question whether or not I would survive with the same joy that they are able to. And I am certain that I, alone, would be too weak. 

But God.

If there was ever a testimony to the power of God, the truth of the Word, and the strength of faith? It's in the smiling faces of those who are in the midst of a storm. It's in those who are certain that the sun still shines, even when they can't see it. Who are convinced that love still exists even when they can't feel it. And believe in God, even when He seems silent. 

I don't know what you might be going through. But I urge you, to find your joy, to hold tight to the promises and truths in the Word of God, and to never lose confidence that your hope...will not end in disappointment... That God has not left you. He's not forsaken you. He's not forgotten you.

  

(video below lyrics)

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .