The Rest in The Rain

After a scorching week of endless sunshine and highs of over 30 degrees everyday, the skies finally grew dark as storm clouds rolled in and loomed over, thunder slow-clapping into an applause. And beat by beat, drop by drop, an orchestra of rain played out over the cities, streets and fields. Everything was soaked, nothing left untouched.

Having been at the farm for over two months now, our plants are on my mind. This season of growth and harvest are incredibly dependent on the temperature and weather and this recent heat wave has dried out our strawberry plants (it's been a crazy few weeks of strawberry season) and robbed the land of its moisture. But as I drove by fields in the downpour on my way home, it was almost as if I could see plants with outstretched arms, drinking in the overflowing fountain that poured out from the skies.

ROMANS 8:19-23 - For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but by He who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself would be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning in pains of childbirth until now. Not only the creation be ourselves we who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoptions as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

All of creation is groaning. Just turn on the news - there is injustice, there is mourning, there is pain and suffering, deceptive and evil ideologies running loose, and utter chaos as a result of rejecting God and truth. Society mourns and aches but we personally also experience dry and difficult seasons, seasons that really test us - whether if we are under trial or hardship, feeling isolated or finding ourselves stagnant in our growth or walk with the Lord. Our joy and strength may seem to temporarily escape us as we are hard pressed on every side - we grow faint and may want to lose heart. But I think of Hebrews 12 that tells us to endure hardship as discipline, for the Lord disciplines those He loves and as a result, there is a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The groaning will end and following life's heat waves comes rain. It falls abundantly and we are met with such immeasurable relief and rest in Christ. He showers upon us with plentiful grace and provides us with every single thing we need. In Christ we have and find eternal peace and rest, atonement and forgiveness for our sin so that we who belong to Him can say that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Our sin and trespasses are forgiven and paid for through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and a good and sovereign King rules over our life. We know He works for our good and His glory, and we have an unshakable hope in Him.

1 PETER 1:3-7 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in this last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

When it rains, it pours. Thank you Lord for the rain. We praise you for the immeasurable rest you bring.