“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”
- James 1:2 NIV
“He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
- Matthew 5:45 NIV
I don’t mind telling you, I prefer sunshine.
Sunshine means naps on the porch, squirrels to supervise, and long walks with my human where every mailbox deserves a thorough inspection.
Rain, on the other paw, means wet fur, muddy footprints, and that dreadful sound of thunder rolling across the sky.
The other morning, I stood at the back door staring outside.
The rain was coming down sideways.
I looked at my human.
My human looked at me.
I figured if I avoided eye contact long enough, maybe we’d both agree that “holding it” was a perfectly reasonable plan.
No such luck.
Out we went.
I splashed through puddles while grumbling under my breath.
My ears drooped.
My tail wasn’t exactly wagging.
I couldn’t understand why anyone would willingly step into a storm.
But then I noticed something about my human.
He wasn’t complaining.
He lifted his face into the rain and smiled.
Later, towel-dried and stretched out on my favorite spot, I listened as he read from God’s Word.
James talked about finding joy in trials.
And in Matthew, Jesus reminded His listeners that rain falls on everyone—the good and the bad alike.
That’s when this old dog learned something.
Rain isn’t punishment.
Sometimes rain waters the fields so crops can grow.
Sometimes it washes the dust away.
Sometimes it teaches us gratitude for sunshine.
And sometimes it reminds us that God’s goodness isn’t dependent on our circumstances.
Life has rainy seasons.
There are days when prayers seem delayed, burdens feel heavy, and storms linger longer than we’d like.
We want to stay behind the door where it’s warm and comfortable.
But God still walks with His people in the rain.
He doesn’t always remove the storm, but He promises His presence through it.
He teaches us trust under cloudy skies and joy in soggy circumstances.
And often, when the rain finally passes, we discover that our roots have grown deeper because of it.
As for me, I’m still not fond of thunderstorms.
I’ll gladly accept a towel, a treat, and a dry place by the fire.
But maybe next time the rain comes, instead of growling at the clouds, I’ll remember this:
Even rainy days come from the hand of a faithful God.
And if my human can smile while walking through the puddles, maybe this old dog can wag his tail a little too.
Prayer: Father, thank You for being with us in every season of life. Teach us to trust You when skies are gray and to find joy in Your presence even during life’s storms. Grow our faith through the rain and remind us that Your goodness never changes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
