Storms, Even Devastating Ones, Can Provide Blessings In New Growth

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<God said,> “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.”’ (Isaiah 45:8)

In the federal government, there is much ‘gnashing of teeth’ regarding the reduction of personnel in the employment roles of the bureaucratic agencies.   Once seen as a lock for lifetime employment and job security, many jobs are being eliminated in the march to reduce government spending and remove the waste or bloat that many agencies were plagued with.  As a taxpayer, I wholeheartedly agree with the purging of excess to gain efficiencies and reduce costs. 

At the same time, I pray for those who are affected by these cuts; there are many who have families that they support, or have medical needs that their jobs provided affordable health insurance to handle their care.

To some, their jobs unfortunately became their identity.  A Federal job once equaled a lifetime guarantee of employment, with promotions and step increases along the way until it was time to retire, then one could receive a pension and benefits that would carry them until the Lord called upon them to take them home.  For many of those facing the cut, this shatters that assurance. 

What was assurance by men has found to be deficient; there are no guarantees and is leaving many to ponder their future; what will happen, where will they go?  It would seem their life is now washing away in a flood of despair with all the storm clouds upon them, dropping a torrent of rain that is washing away their security and plans.

I pray for each of them to realize, however, that the rain that washes away the old promotes growth of the new.  We don’t want floods, but as in ancient agriculture, like on the banks of the Nile, the floods brought a replenishment of sediment in the spring that allowed the crops to grow in enrichment and promoted large harvests in the fall.  While it may have also at times destroyed buildings or swept away farming equipment, it increased acreage to grow more crops.  

For many, the sweeping away of the status quo will bring new opportunities that can provide better situations – if one uses their opportunities wisely and through the wisdom of the Lord.  A storm may cause devastation, but it also provides blessings that were never before considered.

God is not only talking about the literal rain in Isaiah 45:8 (though the rain is righteous, even when it floods – was not the Great Flood a righteous event as it was from God to cleanse the world?), but the storms one encounters in life.  We need rain, though sometimes harsh and never fitting into our plans; to grow crops, grass & flowers, and provide water to drink (and allows our pools to fill without having to get it from the hose).  Life comes from the rain, even those we sometimes get a little (or a lot) wet, and sometimes inconvenienced. 

In the same way, God’s righteousness on our lives comes pouring down.  We don’t always see His blessings as convenient at first, but if you can be patient and open to the Lord, we find His righteous rain upon us gives us growth and Life, and of course the Living Water to drink. 

We don’t always prepare ourselves to receive His blessings and even say things like, ‘but that’s not what I wanted to happen’, but if we continually are aware of His presence, and prepare for His giving, we will be able to plan for the best use of His righteousness that He gives.  Sometimes it’s the things that you receive that you initially think ‘meh’ or worse disastrous; but find out they are truly the best things in life.