Rain – Jacob Mauney

“May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.”
–Psalm 72:6 (NASB)

I love the rain. I love the smell of it. I love watching it cascade from above down to the ground – covering everything. I can usually tell when it’s going to rain and I look forward to it. Rain can be very refreshing. The song Ripple (by the Grateful Dead) states: “Reach out your hand, if your cup is empty. If your cup is full, let it be again. Let it be known, there is a fountain that was not made by the hands of man.”

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
–Psalm 23:5-6 (NASB)

You can pour a glass of water and it tastes good and refreshing. But if I sit that cup down and come back a week later, it’s no good. Why? Because it’s stagnant. For water to remain fresh, it needs to be moving. If I am not moving as an individual, I am no good to anybody. I can become stuck, not allowing constant refreshment to fill my heart, mind and soul. When this happens, not only is the thought of rain appealing – it becomes a necessity.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.”
–Psalm 23:1-2 (NASB)

When the Israelites were in the desert, God provided manna from heaven. He “rained” on His people what they needed – but not always what they wanted. When we seek out “refreshment” from the wrong sources, it may seem good, but it doesn’t fill us. That kind of rain actually drains us. Only God knows what will fill our hearts and souls with what we NEED.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
–Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)

We all have a path to follow. The road is for your steps alone. Seeking heavenly rain will help nourish, refresh and encourage you to keep walking forward, to keep moving. One travesty of life is a person’s choice to stop traveling the path, never seeing what lies ahead. Too many of us settle for a lesser path, seeking “refreshment” from sources that drain us and deter us. God wants something so much more for you – and He will send His rain to provide what you need, when you need it . . . so you can take the road less traveled. However – you need to ask Him!

Without God’s rain, I would not be able to continue in my walk with Him. His rain fills my cup, not the fountain made by the hand of man. Through all of the challenges I’ve faced, God has faced them with me and He has showered on me what I’ve needed. It hasn’t always been easy. I’ve asked lots of questions along the way. However – I know where my path leads and I am determined to get there. Thank you God for sending your rain!