In the midst of all the storms lately, I have been thinking about the gift of rain. Without rain, the flower will never grow. Without rain, we cannot truly appreciate sunshine. Without rain, we cannot have the rainbow.

Hardships, like rain, serve a purpose—without experiencing them, we will not learn how to overcome them. Without storms, we will have no reason to seek shelter in God.

I’m reminded of Mark chapter 4 when Jesus calms the storm. As the storm violently broke out, waves began to break over the edge of their boat. The disciples, fearing for their lives, went to wake up Jesus who was sleeping peacefully in the stern. “Have you no faith in me?” Jesus asked.

How often do we cry out in fear or go into panic mode when storms break out in our lives? All the while, God is asking us where our faith is.

When we face hardships, we must remember “this too shall pass”. One of the promises God makes to us is that He has plans for our lives, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven. There’s a time for weeping and a time for laughing, (Ecclesiastes 3) just as there is a time for rain and a time for rainbows and sunshine.

The true gift of rain? Every time I see it, I know the rainbow is coming, and I’m reminded that my God is a God who keeps His promises.