“Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain, so every field becomes a lush pasture.” – Zechariah 10:1
This upcoming Sunday morning, many of us go through the ritual of turning our clocks forward, entering into Daylight Savings Time. This day feels more like the beginning of Spring to me rather than the 21st of March. It is that adjustment of the clocks in response to the lengthening of daylight that makes it seem more like an occasion. And I love it.
Spring is special because it represents new life. The blossoming of flowers and the return of birdsong has a way of stirring something hopeful inside.
But it comes as no surprise to you that rain is a major part of this process called new life. In order for grass to grow and crops to flourish, a significant amount of rainfall is needed.
Sometimes rain is gentle and quiet. But often, it comes to us in the form of storm clouds. In fact, it is unlikely to get the needed amount of rain unless a series of storms rolls across the land. Storms can be intense or even violent. They cause all manner of chaos in our lives, too.
And so it is with the metaphorical storms we face in our lives. There is nothing pleasant about suddenly losing a job or the ending of a marriage. The impact of losing a loved one can bring even the strongest of us to our knees.
But a life without storms cannot produce the kind of life we want. Think about it; we want to be strong, joy-filled, with lasting peace in our heart. Whether it is a desire to stay physically healthy or emotionally resilient, we want the best that life has to offer.
And that’s what storms do. When things are tough, and we face struggle and difficulty, those qualities of a good life are developed. That’s HOW we become strong and joy-filled and peaceful. God has designed our lives in such a way that the storms we face produce the best that life has to offer.
The passage above encourages us to pray for rain. It is likely offered with agriculture in mind, but it also makes a point about our lives. I am not saying that you should ask God for heartache or pain. But I am saying that you should ask God to take those heartaches and pains we have and turn them into the things that make us healthy human beings. He is eager to make you the best version of you possible.