I was out running errands the other day and, super inconveniently, buckets and buckets of rain were dumped on my path. There had to be flash flooding going on, at least I saw it happening in the streets.

I thought of how much easier my day would be if it weren’t for the rain. But I also though of how much we need rain. So while I’m inconvenienced by the darkness and rain of today, it’s necessary isn’t it?

Let’s think of what the rain does for the earth: it makes grass, plants and trees greener, helps them grow, and nourishes them. For my car, the pooled rain in the puddles washes the underbelly and the places even a carwash can’t reach.

I was reminded on that rainy day of how the “rain” we experience in our lives can do for ourselves what it does for the earth and our vehicles- help us grow and cleanse us.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold- though your faith is far more precious than gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6, 7

God can use trials to purify us, change us and make us grow in His name. Although the rain, the storms and the clouds (the hurricanes, tornadoes, etc…) are often scary and inconvenient, they alter our lives. They show us how not in control we are. But they also put us in a place of looking for something that is in control; something to help us, grow us, know us, cleanse us and change us.

His name is Jesus.

Matthew 5:45 says, “…He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” We can’t buy the prosperity gospel lie that if we are a Christian we will be void of rain. His grace, however, is always present for those who look to him for help even especially in the trials. After a storm what do we see in the sky? The rainbow. God’s glorious, gracious rainbow and promise to many generations to never flood the earth again, but also His faithfulness in all things.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world. John 16:33

The other day I spilled my coffee all over my kitchen. I didn’t know there was any still in the cup and while placing it in the dishwasher, I flipped it upside down and soon my white cabinets were covered with the smell and color of coffee. I rolled my eyes and thought, Really?! Why.!? I mean why.

Coffee everywhere.

But then I was reminded of John 16:33; that in this world I will spill my coffee. And it lightened my frustration with the inconvenience. In this world I will make mistakes. I will sin, others will sin. We will have spilt things, broken things, difficult people and hard times. In this world we will have dirty kitchens, lots of laundry and dishes (sorry, I had to add it!). In this world we will have trouble but because of Jesus we can take heart and have peace. We can laugh, learn and grow from the “rain”.

I know I mentioned several small, minor inconveniences; but if we recognize His presence and refining in the sprinkling of rain, we will do the same in the downpours, right?

What we experience here and now is nothing compared to the glory we will experience one day in Heaven. So we expect these trials. We are not surprised by these trials (even though I often am). We welcome the inconveniencing rain because it shows us that this place is not our home and it gives us the opportunity to turn to the One, the only One, who can help us deal with rain big or small, spilt coffee, trials, sin etc…

Turn to Him today. Say yes to Jesus moment by moment, day by day. May He refine us into His image until we are face-to-face with Him in glory. No more spilled coffee, no more rain, no more trials… just praise and glory and honor in Jesus.

If you have not placed your faith in Him, I urge you to. This world is going to get worse. We must have something to cling to when the rain comes…may it be Jesus.