We’ve been getting a lot of rain over here in California. Because of the rain, things got inconvenient for me and my family; grocery shopping became difficult, our normal exercise routine was disrupted, and even things as simple as going to church was quite a hardship!
Thankfully, now the rain is all gone. It’s still a little cold, but, the skies are now clear and blue, and for the FIRST TIME in, like, WEEKS the SUN is out shining!!!
Despite how wonderful the weather is now, I noticed another thing that came because of the rain. I have a photo of it below:
This is a photo of a field near my house. Now, before it started to rain, this field was just a dry, barren patch of dirt. There was honestly NOTHING in that field except a couple of dead bushes and some rotting wood. But because of the rain, what was once nothing but dry dirt turned into a vast field of rich, green grass and plants. And the same thing applies to the cover photo at the top of this post. That area also was just a slab of old dirt until the rain came and transformed it into something beautiful.
And you know, this is kind of like our hearts. When the rain of trial and affliction comes upon us, and SEEMINGLY “ruins” our lives. It SEEMINGLY “disrupts” our carnal natures. The raindrops of conflict SEEM to turn everything into “hardship.” But just like the rain–despite how horrid it turned everything for my family’s normal schedule–transformed an old, rotten, dirt patch into a rich green grassy field, so does the rain of trial turn our old, rotten, sin-dirty characters into something rich and beautiful. It’s like a statement I once read:
“Through conflict the spiritual life is strengthened. Trials well borne will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces. The perfect fruit of faith, meekness, and love often matures best amid storm clouds and darkness.”
–[Christ’s Object Lessons pg. 61]
Maybe you’re going through the rainy storms of trial right now. The raindrops of conflict are making your whole life feel hard, miserable, and perplexing. You might be thinking that God doesn’t care about the downpour of trials in your life. But I’d like to encourage you today that even though everything around you is dark and rainy, God is using the rain to cleanse your old, rotting, sin-dirty heart and transform it into the love-rich heart of Christ!
Yes, right now your life feels cold, dark, and rainy. Yes, everything may seem to be going wrong all around you–but when the rainstorm of trial is over, and the sunshine of peace comes, not only will you see the that the trial is DONE, you will see the plants of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” grown in your life (Galatians 5:23-24). But the key part is mentioned in the above quote: “trials WELL-BORNE will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces.” I understand that it isn’t easy to “well-bear” a trial–in your own strength. But when you turn to God to HELP you bear the trial, He will help you. This is one of my favorite Ellen White quotes, and I not only wish to share it with you, but I also hope and wish you’d really take this quote into DEEP consideration. Here it is:
“Satan will seek to discourage the followers of Christ, so that they may not pray or study the Scriptures, and he will throw his hateful shadow athwart the path to hide Jesus from the view, to shut away the vision of His love, and the glories of the heavenly inheritance. It is his delight to cause the children of God to go shrinkingly, tremblingly, and painfully along, under continual doubt. He seeks to make the pathway as sorrowful as possible; but if you keep looking up, not down at your difficulties, you will not faint in the way, you will soon see Jesus reaching His hand to help you, and you will only have to give Him your hand in simple confidence, and let Him lead you. As you become trustful, you will become hopeful.” {Messages to Young People pg. 63}
Are you struggling with a rainstorm of trial right now in your life? Do you long for help and courage to keep going, despite how cold and dark things may appear? Then all you need to do is pray:
I’d like to conclude this post with a Bible verse that has personally encouraged me whenever I faced a rainstorm of trial:
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”
(Psalm 40:1-4)
I hope and pray that you will make the Lord your trust in not only rainstorms of trial, but also in ALL seasons of life. Amen!