We All Need Rain

"Lord, thank you for the rain that we need."

That was only a small piece of the prayer that sang out of my mother's mouth as we gathered around our worn, wooden dinner table a few nights ago. In our small island town in the San Juan Islands, rain is more than a norm, it's an expectation. The way people associate Seattle with grey, rainy days 365 days a year? Our little island holds ten times the moisture when the clouds roll in- even in the middle of June. We're completely used to the cold rain, but that makes the bright days full of sunshine even more special and appreciated.

As I look out the window on this mid-June morning, the rain pours. And pours. And pours. We had a quick glimpse of summer's sweet face a couple of weeks ago, temperatures just barely grazing the 80 degree range which, for us Pacific Northwest islanders, is a miracle. But this week seems to be Washington's "summer" yelling "just kidding" as it chuckles and hides away once again, probably for a few weeks more at least. But we need this rain, do we not? Our withered plants need it, our dirty cars need it, our thick, dusty air needs it. We need the rain. But do we always want it?

As soon as those words were spoken during our prayer at dinner, my mind instantly connected the word rain with change, and my mind wandered off far from there. The past week, or the past few months, really, life has seemed to revolve around change, and mostly on the negative side for me, at least. We know that everything changes, and when we experience this truth it only reminds us, sometimes rather harshly, that nothing in this world is permanent or anything close to a standstill. People leave, families grow, jobs are lost, friendships are made, careers advance, lifestyles are altered, beliefs are cast off, people age, things die, promises are broken. This world is constantly decaying and passing away, and along with that comes change that we don't often ask for or particularly want, just like the raindrops that race down my backdoor window. So why do we need it?

As I said earlier, rain renews. Regenerates. Restores. Rain causes what was worn to breathe new life, and what was tired to be renewed with fresh energy. Rain starts things over, offering a fresh beginning and another chance to do better, grow stronger, and produce more beauty.

As does change.

Change in our lives is nothing less than a blessing, whether or not you feel like the specific change deserves to be labeled good or bad, positive or negative. Thinking back to my last post (I really don't ever want to reference myself, but why not!), I attempted to explain that God causes anything and everything in our lives to happen for His ultimate glory, and, our ultimate good. That being said, changes in our lives are no exception to this steadfast truth.

I only step up high on this soapbox because I am probably the most change-loathing individual I have ever known. I. Hate. Change. I hate not being able to predict what is going on, I hate being left out of the loop, I hate not being able to prepare myself for what's to come. I love understanding what's happening, what's going to happen, and preparing myself appropriately for those events. I love finally getting to the point of being comfortable with something. And, most often, it's at that point or very shortly after that things start to shift and change again. This world is temporal, along with all its joys and pleasures. Friends leave you, loved ones pass away, events change, surprises are spoiled. Those are just a few of the changes I have undergone in the past few years. Honestly, a lot of change has been happening the last few months that I have had little heads-up to prepare myself for. And these changes force me to answer the question, why do I need this change? If God has brought these about, there has to be a reason. There has to be. If I believe that God reigns lovingly and justly over all, then nothing that can or ever will happen to me will ever be out of His hand and divine orchestration. Nothing.

Rain renews. Rain regenerates. Rain restores. Rain causes new beginnings. Rain offers new chances.

Change renews. Change regenerates. Change restores. Change causes new beginnings. Change offers new and better chances.

If everything remained the same, how could anything get better? If everything stayed rooted and permanent, how could there be room to grow?

Change happens to make things better. Change happens to make us grow. Change happens to offer us new beginnings, restore our souls, renew our tired spirits. Change forces us to fall to our knees and cry out to heaven, "God, You are the Almighty Sovereign, and I am not."

Lord, thank you for the rain that we need.

Peace,

Lauren