When the Rain Doesn't Come!

This week here in New Jersey, water restrictions were put into place due to drought conditions. Although we’ve enjoyed some terrific weather, the continually blue skies have meant a lack of rain. September 2024 was the third driest September on record, followed by an October that had record low rainfall not just for the month of October, but a record low for any month. And thus far the November has not been any better—just a tenth of an inch. 

I realize that we are not the only ones facing a lack of rain. And ours is not nearly as severe as it has been in other parts of the world (and hopefully will not be). When Kim and I were on the island of Lesvos, Greece at the beginning of October, we were told their last rainfall had been April 10. And they still have not received any substantial rain. Parts of South America (e.g. the Amazon rainforest in Brazil) and southern Africa have faced long-term droughts. Some places have been devastated by a lack of rain.

I think we’d all agree, we fail to appreciate rain until it doesn’t come. Sometimes we even complain about the rain, especially when it comes at times inconvenient for our schedules—e.g. when we were hosting an outdoor event or had plans to go to the beach.  Of course, we don’t want it to rain as it has in Spain recently, causing severe flooding and the death of a couple hundred of people. But we all know we cannot survive without rain to water the earth. We are dependent on the rain. Simply put, we need rain. 

This is why the Bible likens rain to the blessing of God. Jesus tells us,  “(God) sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45 – NIV) That is, God in his great mercy and grace allows blessing to fall on all people; that includes rain. 

When writing about God’s blessings, the Psalmist wrote , “He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain  and makes grass grow on the hills” (Psalm 147:8) And speaking of a day of renewed blessing for his people, Isaiah wrote, “He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.” (Isaiah 30:23) 

I would venture to say, not only do we take the blessing of rain for granted until the rain doesn’t come, so too we take all of God’s blessings for granted; we fail to appreciate all of the good things God places within our lives—the food on our table, the roof over our head, the family and friends we have, our health, etc.—until they are gone. 

As we move towards Thanksgiving Day, may we be reminded of and grateful for all the blessings God pours into our lives. May we not take for granted the many blessings he has rained upon us throughout this past year. 

And, let’s pray for rain—not only for ourselves, but for all the peoples who may need rain. 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris