Did you ever stop to see the flowers dancing after the rain? They delightfully sway within the canopy of newness that the rain leaves behind.
True, rain can be both a welcome source as well as a dangerous force, especially if it is torrential and leaves a trail of destruction behind.
In the seasons of our life, we have periods of sunshine, stormy seas and as they say, ‘it never rains but pours’. Sometimes calamities rain down on us and it seems like they will never abate. However, we must take heart and learn our lessons from nature – we need the cycle of the four seasons for constant growth, rest, rejuvenation and renewal.
As sure as the sun sets in the west and rises in the east, as sure as night follows day, nature offers us hope that there will be another season in life to anticipate. The angst of childbirth precedes the unspeakable, much-awaited joy of ushering in a new life into this world.
So why do we mope? Why do we fret and fuss when we are in the storm season of our life? That heavy raincloud will soon release its cargo and before you know it, the sun will shine again. Look and learn from nature!
In the meantime, the question that begs to be answered is – ‘How do you prepare for the storm?’ In nature, we see the dark clouds and if we have washing on the clothesline, we hastily gather them in. If there are things that can be blown away, we secure them firmly. We make sure that we shut the windows and doors to keep our loved ones and pets safe inside. That is what logic dictates. Right?
How do we prepare for the personal storms in our lives? The older we are, the more experience we gain in navigating through the crises that come our way. We often learn from our elders who have navigated through many ferocious storms in their days. Cancer, the loss of a loved one, heartbreak and myriads of personal storms threaten to ‘take the wind out of our sails’. But as long as we have life, we have hope!
Why is it that some people navigate better than others when personal storms come their way? Why is it that after the rain, you will see these people dancing blissfully, like the delicate daisies in the open field?
Strength and fortitude is not simply given to you – you have to work at it! However, like a treadmill that you buy with much gusto, if it sits in your lounge after one month, rest assured, you are not going to lose those kilos. The penultimate source of strength for navigating through the personal storms of our lives comes from the One who made us. He has given us a manual to use so we know how to navigate through those storms that come our way. What use is a manual if it sits unopened on the shelf? Would you not be considered a foolish person if you do not open that manual? Do you sit in the corner, moping, cursing and blaming everyone and everything for your situation? Would you agree with others then, when they label you ‘Silly Billy’?
After the rain – go out and dance! Consult the manual God gave you – no excuses!
Here are 10 scriptures from the Bible – God’s manual for us.
- Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3
- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
- Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” John 7:16
- As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30
- Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
- Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
- Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
- How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9
- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. Psalm 1:1-3 ◊
Linda Pearl
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