As the Rain Waters the Earth, Making It Bring forth and Bud (Isaiah 55:10)
Is it raining, little flower?
Oh, be glad of rain;
Too much sun would wither one;
Soon it’ll shine again.
The clouds are very dark, it’s true,
But just behind them shines the blue.
Are you weary, tender heart?
Oh, be glad of pain;
Sweetest things in sorrow grow
As flowers in the rain.
God is watching, and you’ll have sun
When clouds their perfect work have done.
(Lucy Larcom)
Concerning this down-coming, I may say, first, that it is usually unpleasant. We are accustomed to speaking of rainy weather, and especially of snowy weather, as “bad” weather.
Drip, drip, drip, fall showers of repentance. Snowflake after snowflake falls and buries all our hopes; our joys are covered, as with a winding-sheet.
Oh, dear friends, if we did but know how God is blessing us, if we could but realize that these experiences are working out our lasting good, we should thank God that his Word comes down upon us as the rain and the snow fall from heaven! — Charles Spurgeon
