Once, I feared the rain

Drops of pain that come with life

Afraid of their capacity

To flood with grief and strife.

Once, I feared the waters

That from puddles soon could rise

Afraid of looking up

To see only stormy skies.

Once, I feared the torrents

With their power to destroy

Washing out my footing

And drowning all my joy.

Til, once I saw an image

In the puddles I had feared

A face so sweet, familiar

And my eyes began to tear.

I’d forgotten that every rain drop

Came through the filter of His hand

To cleanse, refresh and make things new

It was all part of His plan.

How could I not remember

That all waters from above

Were first cupped in my Father’s hand

Then poured on me with love.

The torrents and the storms of life

Only served to draw me close

To the One who calms the storm

The One who loves me most.

I looked down at the puddle

That I was standing in

Once a threat, a fear, a foe

Now all I could do was grin.

The puddle had a purpose

Every rain drop had a plan

Each torrent, storm and cloudy sky

First held in God’s own hand.

I looked up to see a rainbow

Through the clouds that marked the sky

Colors bursting through the gray above

God’s promise met my eyes.

So I sat down in that puddle

Not afraid of getting wet

I splashed and laughed, my joy returned

My God’s not finished yet…

“There is nothing – no circumstance, no trouble, no testing – that can ever touch me until, first of all it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me.  If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose which I may not understand at the moment.  But as I refuse to become panicky – as I lift up my eyes to Him – and as I accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret – for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is.  That is the rest of victory.” – Alan Redpath

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.

Mark 4:37-39 – A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.