And there will be a covering over everyone for protection. It will be a shelter to protect the people from the heat of the sun and from all kinds of storms and rain. [Isaiah 4:5b-6 (ERV)]
During rainy season in Florida, we can count on rain nearly every day. Sometimes, it’s a real doozy with thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour; other times, it’s just a little drizzle. Fortunately, by the end of October, the rainy season will come to an end and the tropical storms will give way to milder weather.
I have some friends who seem to be in the rainy season of their lives only, instead of water raining down on them, it’s troubles. Some storms are bigger than others, a child’s mental illness trumps the cancer scare, but, nonetheless, some sort of challenge seems to drop from the sky nearly every day. What’s worse, they have no calendar that tells them that this difficult season will likely stop at the end of the month. Amazingly, although their troubles rain down on them nearly continuously, their misfortunes seem to run off them like water off a duck’s back. Challenges that would sink many have little effect on them; they just keep paddling along. What differentiates them from other people who drown in just a small downpour of trouble?
The difference, of course, is my friends’ deep and abiding faith in a loving God! They receive strength from Him daily and, while they pray this season will soon end, they know that God’s plans for them are good. Faith allows them to see the rainbow in the sky in the midst of the storm.
There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging around, you’ll still stand firm if you stand on His love. [Charles Stanley]
Devotions of the Heart 