Prepare for rain, a motivational statement if ever there was one. It all connects back to a story, and that story is powerful.
The story is about two average, ordinary farmers who both faced the same problem: drought. Drought is serious for everyday people, but just imagine if you were a farmer, if your livelihood was farming. You’d need successful crops at bare minimum to feed yourself and your family. Ideally, you would have abundance to sell and pay for luxuries such as electricity and water.
Anyway back to the story, the farmers desperately needed rain. Both of them prayed for rain, but still nothing. One farmer went out and prepared his field so that he would be ready when the rain came, while the other farmer waited for evidence of the rain to come. They both prayed, but only one took action, only one acted in faith.
I’m sure you’ve heard the statement that Jesus helps those who help themselves. It’s so true. We are capable of doing so much, of being our best, of holding a high standard, and we must do this! Not because it will get us brownie points with God – but because it will bring glory to God.
Our actions and efforts reflect our God, just as children reflect their parents. And we want to be remarkable recommendations for a truly and infinitely remarkable God.
Get Ready
Years ago, one of my nieces was diagnosed with leukemia. Every time she was able to come home, the home had to be cleaned extensively. Chemo treatments leave the immune system unbelievably weak so that the smallest thing can make you sick and send you back to the hospital.
My sister and I stayed with my nieces other siblings for a time and whenever we would hear that my niece was coming home, we’d get ready. Floors would be thoroughly vacuumed and mopped, porches would be scrubbed down, the whole nine yards.
Many times plans would be made in advance, and sadly, something would come up and my niece wouldn’t be able to come home as planned. Even if we had just done the deep clean the day before, we would have to do it again the next day, just to be sure to do all we could to have a clean place for her to come home to.
The temptation presented itself to only begin the extensive cleaning once we knew they were on the way home. But the cleaning took longer than their drive home so this wasn’t feasible. If we had waited like that farmer above who didn’t prepare, we wouldn’t be ready for the blessing – having her home – when it did come.
So I shared the story with my nephews and nieces. Let’s prepare for rain, we’d say. We wanted to be ready, to act in faith and hope. Hope has been defined as joyful expectation, and that’s what we wanted to curate. No, it didn’t magically bring her home every time, but it did help us work better.
Pause and Reflect
This lesson, this preparing for rain, is a game changer. It gives purpose to what might have otherwise been drudgery. Don’t let routines or necessities in life weigh you down, consider these moments as if you are preparing for rain. It truly makes a world of difference!
Life is anything but monotonous, and yet we can act like we get stuck in the daily grind. If this sounds like you, step back and look at your life from a different perspective. Life is 100% what you make of it. Find opportunities to prepare for rain, to practice faith, and to be your best! These opportunities are right in front of you, you just have to realize it.
I truly hope this inspires you, that it adds pep to your step and encourages your heart!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. The story of Preparing for Rain is told in Facing the Giants. If you haven’t seen it, you really ought to! I wrote a summary of it here and I highly recommend it: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2017/06/07/facing-the-giants/