I do not like driving in the rain. Well to be honest, I don’t like driving period. However, driving in the rain is on my worst thing to do list. I try to avoid it if possible. Once I was driving home and this storm came up out of nowhere. The rain was so heavy I could not see. There was nowhere to pull over and I couldn’t just sit in the road. So I slowly kept moving, praying and crying. Yes crying, don’t judge me. I was scared!
Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it? Storms can come suddenly, without warning. Trouble comes hard like heavy rain. And just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. Like the winds, thunder, and lightning! I remember my mother would say about life situations, “when it rains it pours.” Yep, and you in trouble out there without an umbrella. And any kind of umbrella just won’t do. When life comes at you like that, you need a large, sturdy umbrella, one that the wind can’t destroy or blow away. I have found in life storms; we can depend on God’s umbrella to keep us safe. The rain will still come, Jesus said so. (John 16:33). We may not be able to see for a moment, we may bend but we won’t break. We may be scared but we will keep moving, because we know we are covered. We keep going because we know that there is no storm or situation stronger than our God. He is bigger than the universe! Under God’s umbrella we are protected and safe, no matter how many storms come and how hard the rain falls. Unfortunately, there are some that do not know God is our protection in times of trouble. Even us believers move from underneath the protection of God’s umbrella sometimes.
I believe it’s because sometimes we want what we want, when we want it. We live in a world of instant gratification. Everything at our fingertips. We say to ourselves, who has time to wait on God? Being obedient to God takes patience and trust. We may think we can get what we want or get to where we are going faster if we do it our way. Big mistake! That thinking will always eventually lead us into a storm. And when the rain comes, we have left God’s protective umbrella, so we get wet. Soaked. Ask me how I know?
The good news is that we may leave God, but He will never leave us. We can always return under the safety of His umbrella. He will cover and protect us in the storms of life. Let us learn from Peter and not look down! (Matthew 14:28-30). We must keep our focus on Jesus and not the storm! We may get wet, we may even get soaked, but just as Jesus saved Peter, He will save us. He will not let us drown!
God wants us to be obedient. His desire is for us to obey Him even when we don’t understand. Even if we may not feel like it at the time or think it’s a good idea. Obeying God is an essential step in receiving God’s greatest blessings. When God tells us to do something and we know without a doubt it is His will, then we need to obey based solely on who is doing the talking. Faith and obedience walk together. When we live obedient lives, even if we get caught in rainy weather, we will have a sense of peace and joy. Instead of conflict, there will be contentment. That’s all a part of experiencing God’s goodness and protection. Obedience to God is better than any sacrifice we could ever make! Love and Blessings…
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.” (Jerimiah 7:23)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
“And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)
EMMANUEL 