Rain For The Soul

“Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.” (Ps 68:9 AV)

Some view rain as an inconvenience.  Those who wish for outdoor activities see rain as a spoiler.  Those who are attempting to plant crops find it difficult to do so during the rainy season.  Still others who are building homes or buildings see rain as a day off.  Rain is necessary for life.  Unfortunately, man can be short-sighted, seeing rain as a temporary inconvenience to an otherwise great day.  Rain is needed in order for life to flourish.  Rain brings sustenance to plant and animal life that, in turn, sustains mankind.  Rain is indispensable.  There isn’t much life in a desert.

Rain can often be a blessing of great relief.  As a child, running around in a rainstorm in the heart of summer is a fond memory.  Standing at the food of the Cave of the Winds, Niagara Falls, NY without a poncho in the heat of the summer is another.  Sitting in a tree stand completely protected from the elements while it rained on me and all around me is still another fond memory.  I like rain.  Rain is one of my favorite weather conditions.  I don’t mind it at all.  Direct sunlight, however, is another matter altogether.  If I had to take a pick, seventy-five degrees with a steady rain, sitting on a porch swing sipping coffee is my haven of rest.  There is nothing like sitting on a cabin porch with the sound of raindrops and birds chirping that puts my heart and soul to rest.  Give me a steady rain on a warm day, any day over eighty-plus degrees and sunshine.  I would rather try to stay dry than cool.  Rain washes away all the filth that has accumulated during those ‘nicer’ days.  Rain cools the air.  Rain adds humidity to the lungs and makes it much easier to breathe.  Rain is wonderful.  It refreshes the heart of man and the parched earth of our world.

It is all a matter of perspective.  Those who understand the absolute necessity of rain welcome what little they get.  Those who cannot appreciate the life-giving force of rain wish it would go away.  God sends blessings, but we have a hard time seeing them as such. Sometimes we see the blessings of God as an inconvenience.  We don’t always see them as the LORD intends them.  Our Psalmist makes a significant observation.  For the soul that is weary, the LORD will send rain.  He will pour out the blessing of life-giving force that strengthen us to life another day.  I like what the LORD says a bit later in this same psalm.  HE commands strength!  We are never told to be weak.  We are never told to give up.  We are never commanded to surrender.  We are commanded to be strong.  Accepting the rain is a good part of that.