A dry and thirsty land cannot bear life. Then, the time comes that the rains must halt for a moment for the spring fields to be planted. The time between rains can make or break a crop. The ground will store some water, but the top soil needs fresh rain with regularity. The flower pots are starting to come to life with splashes of color all around the neighborhood. Wildflowers are popping up on the roadside. The trees are showing of many hues of green.
The rains are good ... but the farmers need a little break in the rains to finish the planting. They hesitate to complain about the rain, when they may long for it in July and August.
Man cannot control the rain. There are lessons in that truth.
I found this great verse in Hosea. It has two thoughts that make my soul pause to inhale. The fullness and trials of the days can be overwhelming. When it rains... it pours. In the rainy season, we find moments that we really pause. We have not other choice.
The rain is natures semicolon. We pause. We take note; we are not finished yet.
Look at this fabulous verse:
“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” Hosea 6:3 (NASB)
Days of rain come. The amazing thing about the rain is that it washes away the dirt... and at the same time pours new life into the very same soil. I see this every spring. We must "press on". I love that phrase. In fact, it has been my mantra for the past couple years. "Press on" , to me, is encouraging. It says, "Don't give up, the finish line might not be in sight, but we are on track".
"Press" indicates that a constant physical force is causing change. It is moving us into position by exerting a constant physical force. Yes, "Press on!" is a great catch phrase.
Life isn't always comfortable, but we are on track if we are moving in the direction He is leading. In that season, we will come to know Him better, deeper and more intimately. Renewal of that relationship is like fresh rains in the spring giving new life to the land. In the winter, it washes the filth away. He is like the rain. There are more golden nuggets in this little verse.
"His going forth is as certain as the dawn." Earworm is singing this morning... Annie's song, "Oh the sun will come up, tomorrow." Yes, it will... and He will still be with us. I relish that thought from His Word this morning when I am tired, weary and unsure of the next step.
I can "press on" because He is "certain". In the rainy season, much is happening. Choose cute rain boots!
Water is life. He is the Living Water. We can press on through the struggle, as he molds us. He already knows us...but we get to know Him. Like spring rain watering the earth.
This quote is on the wall behind my desk at work. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain." It works perfectly with Hosea 6:3.
Today, I am grateful that in the rain we can press on, press pause and find renewal.
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