With March comes the first day of spring. Blossoms, baby animals, and bright new beginnings. And also, rain. Lots and lots of rain. I love rain, but I also live in the Pacific Northwest. Since living here, I’ve learned that there is such a thing as an end to my love of rain. When the days of grey stretch on and on and you don’t even realize that you’ve forgotten what sunlight looks like because it’s been so long. There can be no speeding up of time to get through the rainy season. When the days take as long as it takes. A couple times we’ve tried to plan getaways to sunnier climates, just to have a glimpse of warm light and a dose of vitamin D. While the brief sojourn brings a bit of relief, it’s only temporary until we return home where the rain has been patiently awaiting our return.

In the rainy seasons of life, there is often no escape. All there is to do is to persevere through it and to cling tight to hope. To hold on to the promise that the rainy season really is just that; a season. Our grip on that promise feels slippery when the lies of the devil are thundering around us. In the rain, it’s easier to believe the storm will win. The lies that this will never end, that we are always the victim, that everything is against us, that maybe we even deserve this, seem easier to believe when we can’t see the sun. That’s why it is so important that when the rain seems to truly feel endless, we recall God’s faithfulness. 

We remember springs of the past, as well as the summers, falls, and winters. We remember that there is a season for everything, that seasons begin and end and begin again. Most importantly, we remember that through the changing of the seasons and in the never-ending rain, God is still good. He is the same God in every season. His goodness, love, faithfulness, and mercy are always reliable; always the same. He is someone you can depend on. When we can remember these things and believe them as truth deep in our hearts, the rain feels a lot less like a storm and a lot more like a gentle drizzle. We still get wet, but it’s manageable. We have the perspective to see we are not caught in a monsoon but in the springtime showers. Eventually, the rain will end and the flowers will bloom. 

Experiencing GOD:

• When were you last in a rainy season? What did you find most helpful in helping you persevere?
• Where can you recall God’s goodness, love, faithfulness, and mercy in your life? Write these somewhere you can return to when the rain feels most extreme.
• Who are people who can remind you of God’s truth and His love for you when your rainy season feels endless? Ask them to be prepared to be that person for you.

Supporting Scripture: 

“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3