Walking in the Rain

“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps almost slipped.” Psalms 73:2

It was raining when I woke up the other morning. Not a heavy rain, just a light rain. The kind that makes you want to scoot further under the covers.

The sounds are pleasant. The effects aren’t always.

I can never walk in the rain. I always end up in flip flops, and always almost fall. I have to walk slowly across the brick sidewalks on the UF campus. The slippery roads and crowds nearly cause my embarrassment along Turlington Plaza.

Those types of rains aren’t so bad though. It’s the really heavy down pours that are bad. The ones that rain like cats and dogs.

Life’s like that rain.

I get going real good. I made a few good decisions and listened to God. God sure can be good. Just dropping blessings down from heaven like the rain falling that morning. It covered just about everything.

But then I’ve got to go messing it up.

I wish, just once, I could listen to the rain and not worry about falling or my hair. I wish just once I could listen to the rain and think, “Thank you God for watering the earth.”

How come every time God does something amazing I want to know what I can do next to make my life better? How come I can’t think, “What can I do to thank you God”?

I try. I try to be as content with what I have. I try to do my very best to serve God through everything. But no matter how hard I try, I’m going to either fall or almost fall in the rain at least once.

I reckon the only thing I can do is press my toes to my flip flops real hard and walk as carefully as I can through the rain and keep trying not to fall.

I never fall when I’m with someone, though. I hold on to them down the slippery roads. I guess no one falls if they’ve got something to hold on to.

I guess I should hold God’s hand.

It’s a good thing God loves me a whole bunch. I mean, to keep picking me up every time and let me hold His hand so tight, He must.

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; You have taken hold of my right hand.” Psalms 73:23

Ever faithful.

These are the times that try men's souls.

The words uttered by Thomas Paine in the late 18th century are good in any context--not just a Revolutionary War. In a world marred by pain, strife, anger, and grief, times can in deed be trying.

***

It's dark. The trees whisper as you walk by. Something stirs near the ground. The chilly night air runs past as you stare up into what seems a dark abyss. You imagine you next steps down a long, wide, rocky, dirt road. Slowly, you pick up your feet. One. Two. Three. Four. Five….

You're making good progress--about 20 feet. It gets easier. Your eyes start to adjust. The trees you recognize as just that--oak trees. The night air feels good as you pick up your pace down the road.

It's a wide road. You wander from side to side. You're still not ready to peer into the forest, just to the edge. Straight ahead. Into the deep, never ending abyss.

As you walk merrily down the path--darkness and all--you trip over a rock. The fall sprains your ankle.

"Help! Help!" you scream into the night, clenching your hands to your ankle, trying to push back the pain pulsing through your leg.

The crickets only respond. You try to pick yourself up and limp down the road. But the weight is too much to bear, and you collapse to the ground.

It starts to get darker again. The trees whisper even louder. The forest seems to get closer, and the road smaller.

With tear-stained cheeks you wonder. When? When does the darkness end? When will you know you long your stuck?

When. An ever-pressing question. The hours roll on, your tears get harder. Then softer. Then harder.

Something stirs in the forest. It's a man….you think. He calls to you.

"Are you ok?"

"I hurt my ankle," you say hesitantly, pushing yourself away from him as he kneels down to you.

"Why are you walking down this dark road alone at night?"

"There was no one else who could come with me, and I had to go down the road to get home."

"You're never have to walk alone," the mysterious man replies. He then pulls out a flashlight, and you see the path's end just about 10 feet away. He picks you up, and with big, strong, sturdy arms, carries you safely to the end.

Putting you down just past the road, he leans down, and looks at your ankle.

***

Jesus did that. Just when we were lost, broken, and had given up hope, he picked us up and showed the way.

That's why I love Him. That's why I'm a Christian. Because when I'm weak, when I think I'll never get help, when I think I'll never find my answer, he shows up. Right when I need Him.

Just because, despite everything and everyone, He loves me.

And you, too.


"Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22

Practice.

Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil.

Cling to what is good.

Be devoted to each other in brotherly love.

Give preference to one another in honor.

Bless those who persecute you.

Never take your own revenge.

Never pay back evil for evil.

Be overcome with good.

Accept the one weak in faith.

Don't judge him.

Observe the day for the Lord.

Thank Him for it.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than we believed.

Not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. For if we live, we live for the Lord.

Romans 12-14.

Do that. Practice that. Let's see what a difference we can make if we do.

Roads.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

This verse holds an amazing promise.

It's comforting to read. It's challenging, but a worthy challenge.

For the past few weeks I have been struggling with a decision. I am torn. I'm torn, and I can't decide what God wants me to do.

I find my options endless. The roads I can take in life seem to multiply by the days. All promising fields. All providing wonderful ways to serve my Lord and Savior. The worst part? I like them all.

I love this verse because it promises that I don't have to get it right. That God knows what He's going to do with me, and that's what will happen.

But what happens between now and then? I'm pretty sure God wants me to be patient and wait for him.

But despite my impatience, I really have no room to complain. I say this a lot, but look at what God's doing!

As much as I sit here, typing away complaining about this, God will still see me through. I just need to sit tight.

You know I think that's hard for everybody to do. It's hard for people to wait. We have so many choices in our lives, so many struggles.

No matter how ridiculous something might seem, there's no insignificant fear or worry. I have often felt like it's silly for me to worry about some things, and I know others would agree with me. But everyone is made differently. Everyone has different struggles and fears and worries. And the beauty of it all is that God loves that about you and me. And we should do our best to take those worries and offer them to God.

I don't know, maybe you don't struggle with this like I do. But every time I read that verse, I know all the decisions I am having to make right now will be answered in due time.

That makes me feel so much better.