Dancing in the Rain.

“Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain -Timber”

   Funny thing is, as I'm writing this, I'm watching ashen storm clouds roll in outside my window.  The past few weeks a few storms that have swept into my life and at times overwhelmed me.  They have me pondering challenges, trials and hardships that are faced in life.

  Everybody faces storms.  Every person is faced with pain they didn't ask for.  We all are faced with adversity.  For some it means losing a loved one.  For some it means not having the money to come back to college next semester.  For some it means losing a job.  For some it means losing a friendship. For some it means being disappointed, broken, shaken, lost, mistreated.

     No one is exempt from life's storms.  Sometimes they are scary.  Sometimes we wonder if there is another side, if we'll ever see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes we just wonder, "WHY?!" 

 II Corinthians 4:7-9

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

   These verses are amazing hope.  The promises that we have are awesome.  God's got us.  He will not let us be crushed.  He will never abandon us.  He will never let us be destroyed.  He is our constant source of hope and joy, even in the midst of storms.

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

    There can be so much beauty found during storms. If we never experienced pain, we would never know God as our Comforter and Encourager. If we never experienced brokenness, we would never know God as our Restorer. If we never experienced sickness, we would never experience the power of our Healer. If we were never hurt, we wouldn't have the blessing of being reassured, held, and loved on by our Father. If we never felt rejection, we would never find that complete acceptance and reassurance that can only be found by our Creator, the One who holds the world in the palm of His hand, yet knows the number of hairs on our head. If we never experienced loss, we would never know that God really is enough for us. Life is not easy. But, when we are focused on our real, purpose, glorifying our beautiful Maker, Creator, Savior with our lives, we can be blessed, incredibly blessed by knowing and experiencing God more intimately than we ever could without the pain and trials life brings.

     Through this past week God has brought me so much joy through trials.  He has shown me the power of prayer.  He has shown me His power, a power that can change even a heart of stone.  He has demonstrated His unconditional love and faithfulness.  He has also shown me how He has changed my heart.  He has also blessed me through amazing friends who have been there for me through it.

   I serve an amazing God.  Even through storms, tests, trials, hardships He is faithful.  Now that is something worth rejoicing, praising, and, yes, DANCING for <3