Soak Up the Rain

Read |Isaiah 55:10-13|

In the beautiful island nation of Jamaica, where I grew up, rainy season occurs twice a year: once in May and again, October through November. As a child, I loved rainy season. I knew its coming and going intimately: the cooler temperatures; clouds, proud and grey; and the aroma of the expectant earth rising,  just before heaven opened wide. I would take my cue from the earth and run to posture myself, arms outstretched, under the pregnant clouds. First the sound, and then the rain. We were soaked: the earth and me. We were refreshed: the earth and me.

Several years post my last soak, I find myself reflecting on this childhood practice as I read and reread Isaiah 55: 10 - 11.  Here the Lord invites His people to draw near to Him, so that they may attend to His word and truly live!  He explains the power of His word to revive, by comparing its work to that of rain and snow, released from heaven:

"For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." (Isaiah 55: 10 - 11, CSB).

The rain and snow falling from heaven come with great abundance, so that it saturates the earth. It is the saturation of the earth that causes life to spring forth. The rain and snow are His word released from heaven, and the earth our hearts. The effect of this transaction-- heaven generously releasing and our hearts humbly and expectantly receiving--is abundant life springing forth.

And here's the challenge: in order to be revived, we must humbly and expectantly receive.  To humbly receive we must acknowledge our poverty. "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost!" (Isaiah 55: 1). Who is thirsty? It is me, Lord. Who is without silver? It is me, Lord. Who is hungry? It is me, Lord. In our acknowledgement we are positioned, outstretched arms, under pregnant clouds for His provision. To expectantly receive we must trust in Him, in whom are all the heavenly riches. (Philippians 4:19). We must set our eyes on the One, who is faithful to lend His strength to uphold the weak. (Matthew 11: 28 -29).

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust you with the confession of our poverty, that we may soak up your heavenly provision that brings life--and life more abundantly. In Jesus' name, amen.