“But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.  Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”
– Matthew 5:23-24

Oh Lord, I am thankful for your love and protection.  You do all things well.

“Is it going to rain?”
“How much rain did you get?”
“Pray for Rain!”
“We didn’t get much this time.”
“Oh shucks, it’s going around us again.”
“Why did they get rain and we didn’t?”

Does this sound familiar?  Well, if you live here in West Texas, it is the most frequent subject people talk about, except Friday Night Football.  For dry land crops, it makes or breaks you if there are prolonged dry spells with no rain.  Irrigation helps, but it is not as beneficial as that good ol’ rainwater.

Even in the Old Testament, rain and drought were life and death in the Middle East.  There were times God withheld the rain as punishment when the Israelites were disobedient (1 Kings 17:1).

What lies beneath our worry and anxiety?  I believe that when we “know” what we need, it Is hard not to question why a loving God could not just let it rain on us.  He surely knows that we need it.  And maybe, because we attend church, we deserve it.

We cry, “Come on, God!  Just a little bit, so we can get through the harvest.”  Now the other side of the coin is that we surely don’t need rain when we are busy planting.  “No God.  No rain today . . . or tomorrow.”  It is very easy to try to control God, so that He gets it right.  Why?  Because we do not trust Him to do for us what we want.

You know what?  I don’t know if I have ever seen a farmer or rancher thank God for the rain equal to the amount that he was critical for not having rain.  We all doubt that God really knows our cares and has the power to help us.  That doubt stems from not having a relationship with Jesus.  Relationships are a two-way street.  You have to spend time together, get to know how each other think, what your values are, what each other do for pastime.  When you talk about your goals and concerns, then you begin to value the other person.  They become a friend.

I hear people say, “I love Jesus, because of what He did for me,” but not for who He is.  That is so shallow and a little selfish.  What about caring for a real person who laughed, loved His family and disciples, and had the courage to stand against Satan on your behalf? (Mark 10:15-16; John 2:1-2)

Remember, it was your cross that Jesus died on.  You were meant to die for your own sins (Colossians 2:13-15).  He chose to die for you, and He had no sin.  He is a real man, a friend, a brother, and God’s only son (John 15:13-15; Revelation 3:20-21; John 1:13-14; Matthew 3:17).  It’s time to trust Him for the rain and become His real friend and brother.

I have heard people say that God was no farmer or rancher.  Well, I heard that He planted the first garden and owns the cattle of a thousand hills (Genesis 2:8; Psalm 50:10).  And whose land is it anyway?

Love Jesus and have peace.

By the way, a couple of hours after I finished writing this blog, it poured rain after months of nothing.  God does have a sense of humor.

– Written by Pa

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