He'll Come Like the Rain

Raaaaaaain! 

Many aspects of life in BK make the culture of Bible times so much more relevant. On any ordinary day, I may see ladies drawing water from a well, separating grain from the chaff, riding donkeys, plowing fields, and even sacrificing to idols. One of the things that really hits home while reading, especially this time of year, is the importance of water and of rain. 

It can be depressingly hot and dry this time of year, especially when there's no hope of rain for months. Since living here, I have begun to understand the real dependence on the Father to provide rain, both in the physical and spiritual sense. The references in the Word to rain, its effects, and our dependence become so much more clear and beautiful as I read: 

-That same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe (1 Sam 12:18)
-They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain (Job 29:23)
-Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. (Jer. 14:22)
-Let us press on to acknowledge Him... He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hos 6:3)
-But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He. . . sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt 5:44-45)
-Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. . .and fills your hearts with joy. (Acts 14:17)
-Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)

So, as the skies finally cloud up and rain begins to fall, I soak it in and am reminded of just how helpless I am out here. I can't change people's hearts. I can't make it rain. As we pray, though, God will send the rain to fall on our crazy-dry land. It's amazing how quickly things change with a little bit of rain! He will water the seeds. He will create streams of life-giving water in us. As He comes like the rain, He will fill our hearts with joy.