Rain and pain.

It was one of those restless nights when my head just wouldn't stop turning and my heart wouldn't stop aching.  I found myself awake in the wee hours of the night, keeping company with the darkness.  As the tears fell, hardening my face in a salty mask, it began to rain.

Steady and hard the raindrops fell.  And I continued to cry.  It was as if the raindrops were heaven's nod.

It's okay.

I'm awake too.

I'll cry with you.

And so we did.  The rain fell from the heavens as the tears fell from my eyes.  No answered questions.  No heartache removed.  No new circumstances.  Just tears falling to the rhythm of the rain. 

I understand.

There's something quite cathartic about crying with the heavens.  A mingling of rain and pain.

The thing about rain and pain is that it sure clouds up our vision.  It's easy to get disoriented in the rain.  It's easy to lose sight of where you're going.  Suddenly, the fast moving rain of unexpected circumstances washes away His footprints, and the doubt comes pouring in. 

God, are you still there?

Can you see me through the rain?

Do you see me drenched in pain?

It can feel lonely and isolating.  And if it's rained hard enough and long enough in your life, it's easy to forget why you're even out trying to walk in it.  As the darkness looms and thunder rolls, it can feel scary.   When the pain is deep and the rain is heavy, it seems all around you the flood waters are rising with no way out.  It's easy to believe you'll most certainly be swept away by a flash flood and carried far from the place you've long been journeying towards.

But there's something more to rain and pain.

Psalm 77:16-20 says,  
"When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
¹⁸ The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints were unseen.
²⁰ You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

Trust His heart when you can't see His hand.  

The God who wields the lightning and causes the earth to tremble?

He is with you.  He is for you.  And He lavishly loves you!

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.  And that is what we are."  1 John 3:1

"If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"  Romans 8:31-32

"The Lord is good.  A stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

When your heart is aching and your tears unending.  Trust His heart.
When the nights are too short and the days too long.  Trust His heart.
When you can't see how your future will be any different than your past.  Trust His heart.
When you can't fix the brokenness of those you love.  Trust His heart.
When your head spins with unanswerable questions.  Trust His heart.

If our all-powerful, good God is big enough to destroy the powers of death and hell and small enough to tend to my wounded heart, He can certainly stop the rain and remove all the pain.   
                          

 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

So if the rain is falling and the hurt hasn't gone away, trust His heart.
If you're feeling lost and His footprints are unseen, trust His heart.

Trust His heart when you can't see His hand. 

Declare with me!

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
¹² I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples.
¹⁵ You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph."  Psalm 77: 11-15

Our great God and Redeemer knows you and loves you.  He is strong and He is good.  And He promises to never leave you or forsake you. 

Trust His heart when you can't see His hand.

"Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in His holy name; Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us even as we hope in you."  Psalm 33: 20-22