Here I am sitting on my bed listening to the rain and thunder. Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.” As I sit here and listen to the peaceful rain as it hits the roof and the sound of the thunder rumbling in the distance, I am reminded of God’s power and strength. As I sit here and gaze through my window at the dark blanket of clouds that cover the sky, I notice the steady flow of water drip from the roof, I am reminded of the purpose of rain.
My spirit longs to grow deeper into Him. My spirit longs for the purpose that God has ordained for my life. I desire to be an example to others of God’s grace and His goodness. I am ready to be used by God, and accomplish His will. I am like a little seed looking forward to the time when it is a strong, beautiful tree. Yet meanwhile, I find myself trapped in sin. Chained to my flesh. Stuck in this cycle of sin and shame. Looking towards the hope of the future but discovering myself immobile and unable to reach the place I seek because of this continual chained heart. Yet, while I am thankful to Jesus for giving me these desires, I am missing the step in the middle. I see the place I’m in and directly see the place I want to be. When I look ahead to what I want my life to look like in the end, I skip over the most beautiful and important part. The part that produces the sturdy tree.
As you plant a seed in the ground, the next day you don’t come back and see that an apple tree has grown and already produced its fruit; though we might want this. It takes time, and it first needs to die. This little seed breaks through its dead covering and begins to sprout. But this does not come easily. It takes strength to break through the ground. But as we continue to look at this sprout grow; we also see it needs rain. This rain produces nourishment so its roots can grow strong and dig deeper into the ground. This rain seems sorrowful and useless at the time, but we can see the purpose of the rain as it stays sturdy against the wind. Then the little plant gains strength and endurance through the step in the middle. If this little seed grew to a tree in the middle of the night, it wouldn’t have time to grow strong roots that penetrate deep into the ground, and without these roots, this beautiful tree will fall over with the slightest breeze.
So here I am in the rain, rejoicing in this time that will produce strong roots. In this time in the middle, I am learning to be grateful for this rain. Jesus, thank You for giving me this privilege of time to grow my roots deep into You. Now that I am asking to grow, I am joyfully embracing the rain.
Jackson 5: Living on Mission 