What a Day May Hold

Yesterday morning I was able to sit out on our patio for a few minutes before the rush of the day started.  It was such a beautiful morning!  The sun was bright, the moisture sparkled like small diamonds on each stalk of grass, the birds were chirping and happy, and the flowers were stunning in the sunshine.  I only wished that I could have stayed outside longer, soaking up the beauty of the morning.

Today was a far different story.  We had several periods of heavy rain along with some storms that came through.  The scene out on the patio was entirely changed.  The sun was hidden by the thick rain clouds, the moisture came beating down in sheets of rain, the birds were nowhere to be seen or heard, and the flowers were bowing under the weight of the rain.  It was not a morning to stay outside on the patio at all because the wind was blowing the rain onto the place where just yesterday I had sat in peace and beauty.  I was quickly driven inside by the pouring rain.

Isn't that just like life?  One day we're enjoying peace and beauty.  Things are going along smoothly and happily............life is good.  Yet how quickly the scene of our lives can change!  How rapidly things can go from good to bad!  We've all experienced it in one form or another.  I thought of Aaron this week.  He went to bed Monday night just being typical Aaron, and within a few hours he was having hard, scary seizures.  Thankfully, he's fine now......but it was another reminder of how quickly our lives can change.

I know several friends who are facing the imminent death of someone dear to them.  I know of some who are dealing with chronic illnesses, either their own or sadly watching someone they love  who struggles daily.  I know of some who are facing financial hardships and have had to make very difficult decisions.  We never know if we're going to go to work one day and get a promotion or a pink slip.  I know of parents who are struggling with a child who isn't living their life in ways that honor God.  I know of those who are living in pain because of unresolved hurts, broken friendships, ruined marriages, and having to start over in various ways.

I also know that the God Who sends the sunshine is also the same God Who sends the rain.  We need them both........the sun and the storms.  It may be easier to trust God during the pretty days, but it's absolutely vital to trust Him in the rainy times as well.  He's the same God on both days and He can be trusted the same.  To do less would be to doubt His very character.......His love and His faithfulness. 

God has a plan to grow us and to bless us, and it takes both sun and rain to accomplish that plan.  Most of the time we won't see the complete picture until we're with Him, and then we'll understand it fully.  But when we put the pictures side by side, we'll know His plan and we'll see His love.

For now, we trust and we thank God every day for what He allows in our lives.  He is faithful in the sunlight and He is faithful in the storm.