I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of rain. There is something so soothing about that. The raindrops falling on the roof of our RV lulled me back to sleep. I can’t wait to open the door and the windows because my first favorite thing about a desert rain is the scent.
I remember when my oldest daughter and I flew from the northwest to the desert for my dad’s funeral. It was certainly a time of sadness and our hearts were heavy. We had flown into San Diego and rented a car for our drive to Yuma. As we came down from the Mountain Springs Grade and started across the desert floor, the fragrance of a fresh rain filled our car. Something about that aroma was comforting and made us smile. It was as if the Lord gave us a sensual expression of His love, saying everything would be ok.
Outside of Noah’s flood, rain in the Bible has always been an outpouring of God’s blessings to His people. Even the great flood ended with His promise.
“I promise every living creature that the earth and those living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood. 12-13 The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.” Genesis 9:11-13 CEV
The Bible talks of the former and latter rains – rain that comes at the beginning of the planting in the Spring.
“The Lord will open the storehouses of the skies where he keeps the rain, and he will send rain on your land at just the right times. He will make you successful in everything you do. You will have plenty of money to lend to other nations, but you won’t need to borrow any yourself.” Deuteronomy 28:11 CEV
When Adam sinned Satan became the ruler of this world. Jesus said that the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. All we have to do is look at what’s been happening to see the devil’s handiwork of destruction.
But the rain that God sends has the purpose of giving life.
“He will give the rain for your land at the right times, the early and late rain. So you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil.” Deuteronomy 11:14 NLV
I am so grateful for the rain that God gives. It brings refreshing to the earth.
I am also thankful for the outpouring of God’s Spirit that brings a newness into the lives of mankind.
“‘God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy.
19 I will work wonders in the sky above. I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below…” Acts 2:17-19 ERV
Listen, do you hear it? Listen for the sound of God’s refreshing!