Awaiting our Love, our Joy, our Jesus
by Beverly Caudell
As I sit down to write this, it is raining again. Thank you Lord!
Our area has been so very dry and brittle for so long we have kind of gotten used to it-
even though we needed the rain, all we could do was wait.
“Lord, it would be nice for rain to fall.” Then waiting: no rain, God’s time not ours we are reminded.
Then the fires started. Then the fires worsened. “Please Lord, let it rain!”
Then the fires were out of control; destroying homes, land, businesses – horrible damage and fear.
“Oh Lord, Please bring rain to stop these fires and start to heal our land!”
It started small, like a whisper, a light misting rain – a small blessing.
Then a steady rain. Then a downpour.
Our collective prayers have been answered! I have never been happier to experience rain!
We sure had to wait for it! Look at the parallel between waiting for healing rain and waiting for the healing Christ-
Isaiah 35:7 says “the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.”
God IS faithful in his love for us and He will never forsake us.
We waited and waited for rain…as we wait and wait for Jesus during Advent.
I know for myself, even before the Advent season of waiting started, I was in my own “spiritual dry spell” if you will.
I prayed for relief. And I waited. Things got tougher and I prayed again for relief. And waited.
Things got really difficult – suffering and loss. And still I prayed-and waited.
Then, almost exactly like the pattern of rain, relief came.
Jesus showed me, and all people affected by the fires that he will come, that he will heal us,
for it is not things we humans need, but God and each other.
We find His healing love in each other through trials, through pain, through loss, during recovery.
Isaiah 35:10 says “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
But we have to wait for the Lord – in HIS time, not ours.
James 5:7-8 reminds us: “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.
The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient, strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.”
So, as you await our Love, our Joy, our Jesus –
rain a little joy on someone else today. Start with a light rain: compliment someone.
Then rain joy over family, friends, coworkers, strangers: bake something for someone in need,
visit a nursing home, hug someone who needs it.
Rain the healing love of Jesus while you wait for Him, and the Son will come again.
Image by Matthew Kirkland (used by permission via Creative Commons).
