I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. –Ezekiel 34:26
After one of the worst winters we have seen in 15 years here in southwest Virginia, we had a spring season that was beautiful beyond description. During the winter, there was a great deal of talk about what kind of summer we might have: one that was blessed with plenty of rain. Now, I know that some parts of the country have had way too much rain, resulting in devastating floods, but here in this part of Virginia it has been a little dry lately. The sky grew dark earlier this evening and we thought that the anticipated rain would surely fall. There were thick clouds, some lightening, and even some thunder, but no rain. In other words, there was a lot of racket, but no results.
Contemplating this leads me to a comparison with the way people are in their spiritual lives. We often go through the motions: we attend church, talk about faith, and maybe even mumble some prayers, but in the end we are sorely lacking in results. Deep in our hearts we desire those showers of blessings promised in God’s Word, but we somehow keep missing out. Could it be that God has sent the showers, but we simply missed it? Perhaps God has been sending some wonderful blessings our way, but we were so focused on our problems that we didn’t see them. I know that I have done that many times. Here I was, praying for a trickle of rain, and God was sending showers of blessings – just as He promised.
Even in the midst of some terrible struggles, we can begin to look around and see the mighty hand of the Lord at work. For example, my wife, Andrea, is battling cancer, but we have the blessings of a loving family and a loving congregation. Our faith is being strengthened each day through this ordeal, and we are growing closer to God and to one another. This crisis has enabled us to place all other problems and stresses we face in a more balanced perspective. What I am saying is that even in this difficult time, God is still sending showers of blessing our way.
The Lord has done this for us and I know that more blessings are on the way. I also know that God is perfectly willing to send some of these blessed showers your way as well. Stop doubting, trust God, and look upward. The showers are about to fall.
