“Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.”
Joel 2:23 (NIV)
My son and oldest daughter are on sports teams this spring. I just got a cancellation for a practice due to inclement weather. We have had several gray and rainy days here in Tennessee. I am one of those people who is affected after not seeing the sun for several days in a row. The gloomy skies seem to mirror the gloom in my soul. I want to withdraw and hibernate when I can’t see the brightness of the day. I get distracted and can easily fritter away a whole morning or the whole day and wonder what in the world I did with all those hours.
I find that when I cannot see the brightness of the Lord’s presence in my life because of the gloomy clouds of circumstance, I can easily become discouraged. I want to cancel all activities and mope as the cold rain falls in my soul. I become distracted, listless, and convinced I have no purpose. I fritter away opportunities that I might be able to see if it were not for the clouds hiding the sun. I too easily equate a sunny day with those days that I feel self-sufficient. Days in which when I fool myself that I don’t have to pray or wrestle with God about anything. I like those days when I don’t have to work at feeling encouraged.
The Lord never wants me to check out of life and hide because of circumstances. He is the Ruler of the good and the bad days. Each has its purpose. Rain has to come to wash away my apathy and indifference. He is never far away, but He makes me grow by causing me to have to search for Him. I cannot cling to the elementary things of my faith forever. The gray, gloomy days make me have to believe that the sun is still shining, even when I cannot see it. The Lord is much more interested in my seeking Him than me seeking a solution for my situation. The encounter my soul has in its desperate need to find Him is where I find my joy–not even in the situation resolving itself.
Let’s praise Him today that He will never leave us or forsake us. Our God is firmly on the throne, whatever it may look like in our souls. He is able to do the impossible.
Jesus, thank You for Your constant care. Sometimes that means having to experience what I do not enjoy. Even in those situations, You show Yourself to be faithful. Thank You that You are not a fair weather friend to me like I have been to You.
What a relief to know that I’m not the only one who can “fritter away” a morning (or a day!) and not even remember what I did. (It seemed important at the time!)
I hadn’t equated this with days that I have to actively look for God. The days I can see God most clearly are usually preceded by dark days when I have to really search for Him. It’s kind of reassuring to know that it works this way.
We are talking about revival at church lately and how we have to be willing to stand up and be counted for Him. He is calling us to be faithful to Him regardless of our circumstances (or the weather in our life) and be obedient to whatever He calls us to do.
I too am affected when the gloominess of my life takes over and sharing Sonshine is not at the top of my list. That is just the father of lies telling me I am not worthy to share all God has done for me. Your post just solidified what God has been teaching me in church! Thank you!
Being such a huge sport’s fan, I can’t stand fair weather fans and I certainly do not want to strive for fair weather faith!
Keep em coming!
Love you!