There may be some emotional and connection needs that are no longer being met if you are busy working throughout the day and then come home to take care of all the other things you have to do or care for your family. This also can be the case if you have children and they are transitioning to more independent phases of life and you are in or approaching empty nest. This is the time to assess what feels like it’s missing and to start trusting God in how He can help you to meet these needs in new ways.
One summer around 4th of July, our family attended Celebrate Freedom, a large outdoor Christian concert in the Dallas area at South Fork Ranch. Towards the end of the event, it rained a lot, but the crowds still raised hands and voices rejoicing and praising the Lord together as the rain drenched our clothes, chairs, and blankets. We normally would have been running to get out of the rain in any other circumstance, but with our minds focused on God, the rain was just pouring out of our Creator’s power among us.
That weekend as rain still sprinkled down, I will never forget glancing out of my car window while at a stop sign and seeing two black crows together standing tall and still with their heads looking up to the heavens, letting raindrops fall into their beaks steadily held open wide. I was in awe of this peaceful, yet boldly expectant act of self nourishment. The same rain the night before that was washing over us was a source of strength and life for these wonderful creatures. I thought it interesting because crows are often depicted as creatures of negativity and darkness in movies, yet there they were abiding in the provision of our Father of goodness and light.
Trusting God like the Birds of the Air
It reminded me of Jesus’s words: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:25-27,33 NIV)
Our Father says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a NIV) and the birds of the air look up to Him and trust His faithfulness to meet their most critical needs. They see the intimidating, dark clouds and hear the startling thunder from the storm, yet inherently know that through the rain that pours forth from it, their thirst will be fulfilled. Their heavenly Father feeds them.
Yet we, who are described as much more valuable than they, can tend to worry, striving to the point of exhaustion in our own limited human strength, or taking our own selves hostage to habitual doubts and fears, leaving us stuck in the same place or even spiraling down to a darker place, missing out on God’s best for our lives day after day, even year after year.
The storms in our lives can be so difficult that we feel like we are being washed away. Even trying to balance serving our families along with excelling at our jobs or life’s work, and simply ’sweating the small stuff’ daily can overwhelm us and break our spirit. We all have different challenges. But what we all have in common is the ability to be still and know, to stand boldly before our Father, opening our hearts, minds and spirits up to Him, trusting God to quench our thirst for wisdom, strength, peace, and joy in the midst of our struggles.
So next time you encounter unsettling worries about the earthly storms in your life, remember to look up, far beyond what is in front of you, and let wash over you the gentle, yet powerful heavenly rain glistening in the Son’s rays that can break through the darkest of clouds. Stand tall before Him boldly expecting His presence—because you are a co-heir with Christ. Kneel humbly before him faithfully trusting His provision—because you are a beloved child of God. Lay prostrate before Him adoringly embracing all that He was, is and forever will be—because He is LORD! Be still and know. Looking to God in hard times. Trust God in times of need. Let it rain.
“Let it Rain” by Michael W. Smith (contains verses from Psalm 97:1-6 NIV)
Let it rain, Let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven.
Let it rain, Let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven.
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let it rain, Let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven.
Let it rain, Let it rain
Open the floodgates of Heaven.
Let it rain.
In every situation, whether making a decision or addressing a problem, always look upward and inward as a first step for whatever you need. People and resources are of course needed and valuable. However…God is your leader, Christ is your model, the Spirit is your guide, the Bible is your wisdom and way. These are your first and last to consult to stay aligned with purpose. Getting to know God helps you in trusting God with your every need.
Spend time in His presence, modify how you engage with others, make new connections, fill empty spaces in your life with new activities and seek help in any areas in which you feel stuck. Your role in the lives of your spouse, children, grandchildren, in-laws, friends, co-workers, and beyond will be meaningful in new ways. Ask God and trust in Him to give you a new perspective on how to pour into their lives the gifts within you, as well as to find new purpose and contentment.
Christian Life Purpose Coaching Call to Action
- What is the storm hindering you most in your life right now?
- Who or what do you need to be in the midst of it?
- Who or what do you need God to be to you in the midst of it?
- What has hindered your looking to your Father above and trusting God to provide what you have not been able to on your own?
- What inner (beliefs, thoughts, attitudes) and outer (lifestyle, relationships, environment) life patterns must you address to start to transform in the face of these obstacles?
