Come unto us as the rain...

I like to run in a summer rain. One particular occasion I recall there was a steady down pour but not enough to obstruct vision, no lightening...just rain. It was a nice, summer shower. That particular day, I was very frustrated, and I needed some relief. Running does that for me, and the rain just added to the cleansing. It cooled things off, literally and figuratively, and even though I was soaked, it was one of the most refreshing experiences.

Every time I stand in the rain, I have the same feeling and the same result. Release.

Have you ever walked, run, or stood still in the rain? The way each and every drop hits your face and trickles down until it hits the ground, in its own way is liberating. You close your eyes and let the showers wash over you. In that moment, you actually can feel freedom, peace, and contentment. In a sense, you feel like you have shed weight that has been burdening you and now you are free.

In the book of Hosea, chapter 6, the Israelites realize how they have turned from God and have felt the weight of consequence bearing down on them. Here they cry out in repentance and choose to let go of their old ways. They are aware of God’s love, mercy and grace. They know that He and He alone can heal their hearts. “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3

“He shall come unto us as the rain…”

We’re going to stray. We’re going to stress. We’re going to find ourselves in frustrating situations in life that may be a result of our choices or possibly as a result of someone else’s, but no matter what, God can and will bring us back if we choose Him. When we stop chasing the world and start running to God, His love and grace will wash over us like the rain. It will set us free of our spiritual, emotional, mental, and even physical bondage.

My prayer today is that we all will stand in the rain and let it flood over us freely. I pray that with every drop we will feel God’s unconditional love soaking us to our soul and that we will choose to release what is behind, to let go of the sin, the frustration, the anger, all of the things that weigh us down and allow Him to wash over us, to cleanse us and to refresh our lives. Feel the rush. Feel the release. Feel the redemption.

May Your Cup Runneth Over.