Today being the first Sunday in April, I thought it appropriate to talk about April’s showers. You know the saying..."April showers bring May flowers."
It’s been very dry here lately and like many of you I am excited by the prospects of rain in the forecast. We all know that rain can be both beneficial and destructive. Today I’m going to talk about the rainy days of life in an effort to help you find God’s flowers blooming in your life.
Our background scripture today is Psalms 65:10
Psalms 65:10 (NLT)
“You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.”
Most of us would like rain now...because it has been so dry, but honestly when we wake up and it is a gray, dark, overcast day...what does that do to your mood. If your like me, you want to sleep in a little longer, maybe you don’t get as excited about the day as you might normally. Your plans may get put on hold or cancelled. Rain can be disruptive at times.
Let’s talk about the storms of life. When the clouds roll in to your life how do you feel. There’s a financial hurdle on the horizon, trouble brewing in a relationship, an increased stress level in your work. How do these clouds affect you? Our outlook generally becomes dark, somewhat like those dark overcast days. Really the reasons for this mood are much the same.
Uncertainty, doubt about the future and our fears begin to surface. Fears of failure, loneliness and
loss. It is not really the rains and the storms that scare us. It is the havoc that those storms can create that gives us such trouble. And there is no way around them. Look at what the Bible has to say:
John 16:33 (NLT)
“... Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows..."
The storms of life come in many shapes and forms. These may include family, career, financial, relationships, health and catastrophes. If you’ve ever dealt with a rebellious teen, a failed marriage, a loss of employment, financial strain and serious illness you know what I’m talking about. And everyone of us in this room were affected by last year’s tornado. Storms do happen...so what are we today...what is the hope in all of this? Let’s go back to that last verse I showed you, because I left a few things off...what surrounds that verse is a promise, let’s see the words of Christ:
The Promise For All Storms
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 (NLT)
Jesus has overcome the world. The one that holds you in the storms, also controls the storms. Jesus will always be there and He controls it all.
I want you all to think back to April 21st of last year for me. Does anyone remember what went on after the tornado came through? That’s right, it rained. A cool refreshing rain. There is once common thread in storms...Every Storm Brings Rain.
A much needed rain is found in every storm. The rains come and they soften the ground, they nourish the crops contained within the ground, and they revitalize
the soil.
The rains of life bring great benefits for you as well.
1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
"These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
Let’s look at the softening effect of life’s rains. First of all God uses the rain storms of life to soften circumstances. I know last year God used a 240mph wind storm to soften some financial and vehicle maintenance challenges. Sometimes those storms remove adversities. The hills of life are softened and leveled. Our endurance produces greater strength to face those adversities. God may use the rains to soften your heart. By going through the rain, you become more empathetic to others. You begin to seek God’s direction andnot your own. Which ultimately leads to receptivity to God’s voice. As you listen to Him you notice that your attitude begins to change. With this change comes a concern for others, humility and emotional sensitivity that was not there before.
Romans 5:3 (NLT)
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.
Not only are we softened, but through the rain comes nourishment. We find that God’s promises sustain us. We have a deep recognition of Jesus’ presence. Leading, comforting, sustaining. God uses rains to bring others into our life. People who can offer words of encouragement and lend a helping hand.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)
"Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad – because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world."
Rain brings a revitalization of the soil. Ground that was dry and cracked becomes soft and lush. This revitalization comes from a filling of the Holy Spirit. Seeing God’s power working within us in the midst of the storm renews our strength. We not only meet this challenge head on, but we are prepared to take on the next, having experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence before. We receive clear vision and defined purpose for our lives. Again think back to last April 21st. Do you remember what was on your mind that day? When I got up I was thinking about working on my car with my dad. I was thinking about financial needs and career. When I went to sleep that night, my vision and purpose were different. I was thankful that God had spared my life. Car repair and financial issues were no longer the most important thing in my life. Total transformation takes place with nourishment. Without the rains, the seed would never become the tree. Without rain in our lives, we would never become more like Christ. Transformed in every way.
Joel 2:23 (NLT)
"Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rains he sends are an expression of his grace. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring."
The ultimate benefit of rain is a new awareness of God’s presence. Just as Joel says, the rains are an expression of God’s grace. Without adversity we would not recognize His strength and provision. The rain serves as a reminder of God’s love. God loved us enought to send His Son, Jesus to die for our sins. Only Jesus could withstand the storm of our sin, and He did so willingly. Rain promotes strength and vitality. A dry stalk of wheat is brittle and breaks under pressure. A well nourished stalk, bends under pressure, but does not break. The rains bring forth new life and allow us to produce new fruit.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (NCV)
"But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace. And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus."
Has the rain moved into your life today? Praise God, put on your raincoat and splash around a while...God is creating something even greater in you.
