“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” — Isaiah 44:3-4 NIV
Rain has sprayed these shores since the white brilliance of snow left us. We’ve had day after day of unrelenting rain and skies veiled in monochrome shades of grey.
Enough to sink a ship or sink our flagging spirits. But what if there was a different way to view rain? Could we find a fresh perspective on the downpours we receive and are not always thankful for?
Because biblical rain can be seen as a blessing, a gift of grace, a pointer to renewal, refreshment, and a vital, life-giving presence.
If we could look at rain through the lens of holy love, then we might welcome more of it in our lives—even if it brings dark clouds with glimpses of sunshine breaking out behind them.
Holy rain Your grace-fullness tips me off balance because it inhabits everything that exists, all that is seen and unseen by us, revealed or deeply shrouded in mist. It's a soul saturation, a world drenching and a universe bending under the sheer glorious weight found in your holy rain. It resembles hidden treasure, buried deep within the thisness of all things, concealed as a vat of vintage coinage, perhaps, rare and valuable beyond words. My mind fails to fully fathom its depths and the way it inhabits my dailiness, weaving like silken threads between the darkened eaves of each ordinary day. © joylenton
The frequent showers and deluges that disrupt our days could be seen as openings for God’s presence, His refreshment for dry ground and our own parched souls, and a holy outpouring of His goodness and grace upon this thirsty world.
Have you been able to trace God’s blessings coming to you recently, either in tiny drops or abundant showers? How has it altered your perspective on what you are experiencing? I’d love you to share below. 🙂 ❤
“So keep on trying to know the Lord. His coming to us is as sure as the rising of the sun. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain giving water to the earth.” — Hosea 6:3 NLV
Poetry Joy 
This gives me a picture as a child of dancing in the rain with face turned up and mouth wide open after stifling heat-filled days. Drinking it in… Amen to His grace-fullness saturating our souls! Yes, it is hard to fully fathom its depths. I love the picture of it “weaving like silken threads between the darkened eaves of each ordinary day.” What a beautiful way of turning gloomy days into bright ones filled with God’s grace! Thank you so much for this encouragement, Joy. Love and blessings to you, my friend!
Oh, I love the picture you received, Trudy! It so accurately depicts our soul’s insatiable thirst for God which we so often slake with far lesser things that leave us thirsting more. I’m so glad you have been encouraged here. Blessings and love to you, too, dear friend! xo ❤️
This post gives me a lot to think about. Healing rain… renewing rain… cleansing rain…
It is a struggle when you are in the middle of a flood due to rain or as they are in Texas without so much because of snow… in Texas the lesson to be learned is about politics and humankind’s inhumanity to humankind…
A lot to ponder indeed…
I agree, Michael. Rain in superabundance or long seasons of drought, perhaps, can be a curse when it’s damaging to property, health and livelihood. It’s hard to view rain as a blessing under those circumstances because it’s quite the opposite.
When the elements are working together well, then they provide what we need by promoting harmony rather than producing disruption and harm. It’s such a delicate ecological balancing act.
Sadly, living in a fallen world means that everything is subject to a loss of equilibrium and balance. So rain can be both blessing and curse. A dilemma or an answer to prayer. Quite a conundrum to conjure with as people of faith… x ❤️
Indeed it is, but then we have the promise of God given to Noah (subject of this Sunday’s sermon). ❤️ 🌈
Yes, there is hope to be found and the rainbow is a great reminder for us when life gets particularly hard and dark. Let’s keep looking for it, my friend! 😊❤️
Amen ❤️❤️
Your grace-fullness
tips me off balance
because it inhabits
everything that exists,
Such precious thoughts. And truly His grace is such a mystery. Your words give meaning to my dizzy off-kilter days. Perhaps He has been showing me such a different perspective on life here on this journey. Thank you for stirring my heart today Dear friend. I pray that His grace-fullness is keeping you safe and warm during such wet, wintry weather! Love & hugs & prayers for you! Xo
Dear Bettie, the rightening power of God is clearly evident when we sway and stumble, either physically, emotionally or spiritually. He is our soul’s anchor and our means of achieving steadiness, stability and strength even if it occurs inwardly rather than outwardly. Our dependency is what keeps us abiding close and deeply rooted in the Rock that is Christ. May you sense that holding power keeping you strong in your weakest hours, dear friend. Blessings, love, hugs, and prayers to you, too! xo 💜
Thanks for this beautiful poetry Joy. With Covid cases down in my area, the church I worship at held an in person Ash Wednesday Service, socially distanced and with limited attendance. It felt like an Oasis in the midst of the long, drawn out Covid Desert, that my soul desperately needed.
Oh what a gift to have been able to hold a service for Ash Wednesday, albeit under Covid protective protocol! I’m so pleased the numbers are falling and a degree of normality is returning to you and the area you live in. An oasis, indeed! May there be more precious pockets of soul refreshment in the days and weeks ahead. Blessings and hugs. xo ❤️
Through the lens of holy love. That is so beautiful.
Always a blessing to read your posts Joy.
Hope you are well. 🙏🙏
Oh, thank you so much for your kind encouragement, Drew! I’m pleased you enjoy my poetic offerings. I’m doing okay, thanks, and have just had my first covid vaccine, yay! The last year has been really tough for everyone. I miss not being able to see our family. Though I was pretty used to being housebound before the pandemic hit. I see you’re focusing more on your YouTube activities rather than blogging as much as you used to. Hope it all works out well for you and that your health continues to improve. Blessings. 😊
Yaya for the vaccine.
Yes, the Youtube allows me to explore more avenues of creativity. And I am really enjoying it.
Happy y hesar all is well.
Stay blessed.
That’s great! May you keep on enjoying expressing yourself creatively. Stay well, my friend. Blessings.
Thank you.