Let It Rain

Growing up my entire life and spending most of my adult years in the great Pacific Northwest, I never would have seen myself praying for rain one day.

Moving to Arizona nine years ago, I had my first taste of what longing for rain felt like.  The unending heat and unrelenting sun pouring down on me each day had my body and soul aching for its relief.  The blast of hot air in your face each time you opened the door in the summer months had us hopeful and waiting for monsoon season.  You could smell the scent of rain in the air when it was getting close.  And then, almost without warning, the storms would come and the downpour would be both exhilarating and refreshing. It wasn’t unusual for people to go out on their back porches and watch the thunder and lightening in sheer wonder and then go out into their yards and dance in the rain.

Rain.  It brought relief from the heat.  It brought cleansing to a dry and dusty place.  And it brought joy to many sun-scorched people.

Three years ago we moved to Colorado – a welcome treat of beautiful snow-capped mountains and glorious green trees.  I knew that it was a place that enjoyed seasons.  That we receive 300 days a year of sunshine, whether the temperature is sub zero or 95.  I knew that the beauty of this place was unsurpassed.  But what I didn’t realize was that it is very windy here in the Denver area.  It is an arid climate with very little humidity.

Those two contributing factors along with record high temperatures, have given way to wildfires all across this great state.  Thousands are being evacuated.  Nearly 300 homes have been lost.  And the fires are not yet close to being fully contained.  Firefighters have been flown in from all around the nation to help try to tame this wild beast.  They are tirelessly working around the clock in horrid heat.  True heros who are fighting a huge and scary monster.

And so once again, I pray for rain. That showers from heaven would extinguish these raging flames.  That, Jesus, You would send down rain that would help snuff out these fires that threaten to destroy even more than they already have.  Bring sweet cooling, refreshing relief to this place…

Is that thunder I just heard??? 🙂

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.