Rain Showers.

So, tonight I was driving home. It was one of those nights when you run out to your car because the rain has tapered off momentarily and you have those few moments to get into your car and head out on your merry way. So, I was driving home after the escapade of actually getting into my car and it was raining... a nice light rain, nothing I couldn't deal with on the road. I mean, sure, it was an inconvenience, annoying, but nothing that stopped me from going forward or even slowing down.

Then, suddenly, out of nowhere... WHOOSH. It starts monsooning all over my car. Great. I can hardly see, everything feels like it's going in slow motion and it seems like I'll never get out of this torrential and sudden rainfall. So I start praying, "God, just get me home safely. Please." I couldn't pull over because I have no flashers. I couldn't go the same speed because it was impossible. I just wanted to get home.

And then just as suddenly as it started, it's gone. Done. Hardly sprinkling.

I think God works like that a lot. He knows that in life we have minor distractions, like the light rain, but it's nothing that doesn't keep us from going forward. But when the monsoons come and you know you can't just pull over and stop, it's everything you can do to keep going. Even when it feels like the end, like you just don't know if you can move anymore, God is there and His grace and the strength He provides is more than enough.

See, too often I think our prayers are weak. "Lord, just get me home," as compared to, "Lord, in Your power and might, I ask that you stop this rain from affecting our forward progress." God can and will provide in abundant ways, if we would only ask. Because honestly, home (as in heaven) will be great, but our journey here is worth something too. When we can rely on God and ask Him for His provision and blessing, our lives become something that those outside of the faith want to be a part of. When they see what our God can do during a storm, they want to live a life that is infused with Him. Not because it's easy, but because God is the only solution. Ever.

"Lord, in Your power and might, I ask that you stop this rain from affecting our forward progress that we may be a people on fire for You. Release us from the hindrances this world throws at us, in Your Name."