Rain Again

I love rain. Rain gives me life.
 
Ghana has two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is also known as Harmattan. It typically occurs between late November and March with December and January being its peak. We're in the dry season. I haven't experienced any rain for nearly two months.

On the bright side, the humidity has been significantly lower! The dry heat has been a blessing. But I miss the rain. The last time I experienced rain, I stood in my backyard soaking it in knowing that a few months without rain would be difficult.
 
And it was. But today, I saw storm clouds. I watched people frantically close their shops as the wind picked up. Then, I heard rain. I saw rain. I felt rain! It was beautiful. I love rain. The worst part of Harmattan is over. The rain, even though it will be infrequent, has returned!
 
As I sat watching the rain, I realized a few things.

1. Rain gives me life. Water gives me life. I love standing in the rain, walking through puddles, standing in the ocean, hearing the waves, experiencing a sea breeze. I love water.
   
   Jesus talked about water giving life. In John 4:13-14, he said, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." And in John 7:37-38, Jesus says, "Any who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who  believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" Water makes me think of Jesus and life. Rain makes me think of Jesus giving me life. Rain is so, so good.
2. Even though I love rain, it often frustrates me. It rarely fits into my ideal timing. I missed rain, but all I could think of was how if it kept raining, Aubri's fresh rasta braids would get wet which is not supposed to happen.
   
   I am only truly excited about rain when it fits my agenda. And since rain makes me think about Jesus giving me life, I realized that I am only truly excited about Jesus when He fits my agenda. And since Jesus is Jesus, He's too good to fit my pathetic agenda the majority of the time.

I'm currently in the process of trying to figure out my entire future, or at least the second half of 2013. I have so many ideas. So many potentially wonderful ideas yet so many potentially Christless ideas. I'm realizing more and more that I need to be patient. I need to trust that when Jesus says He gives living water, He does. I need to trust that His living water is fully sufficient for me and all of my needs. I need to rejoice in Him and His rain in all of its forms and unidealistic timing. Because it's good. So, so good and so, so full of life.