Searching for Rainbows

Sometimes dreams don’t come true.

Sometimes the rain never stops.

Sometimes the pain never ends.

Sometimes we don’t understand.

Sometimes grief overtakes us.

Sometimes we have to watch our precious loved ones suffer.

Sometimes the ones we love hurt us the most.

Sometimes it is hard to see God’s plan.

Sometimes the healing doesn’t come.

Sometimes the best thing and the only thing that we can do is to pray for those who are hurting.

Sometimes the rainbows don’t come, but even when they do not, God’s promises are still true-always.

Today, we had lots of violent thunder storms, and at one point the sun was shining beautifully and it was raining at the same time. I hurried out to the deck and the front porch to see if I could spot a beautiful rainbow, but it never came. Sometimes they just do not come.

Sometimes, God allows us to walk through challenging circumstances, sometimes many at one time. These past several months, I’ve spoken to so many dear friends who are walking through some very heart wrenching situations. My own family is currently going through several difficult circumstances at one time. At times, my heart is so overwhelmed and heavy that my body can hardly carry it. Some days, I long for rainbows and sunshine instead of constant rain and crashing waves. My heart aches for my friends and loved ones who are struggling through some of the most difficult circumstances ever. I wish that I could do something. And I can. I can love them. I can serve them, hug them and walk with them. I can listen. And most importantly, I can pray.

And, I can remember that even when God chooses not to send a rainbow, He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is in control. He knows. He sees. He understands. His plans are higher than ours. He is there, in the grief, in the confusion, in the worry, in the fear. He is there in the joy, in the pain, in the clouds and in the rain. He goes before me, before my friends and family. He loves them more than even I do and He knows best what they (and I) need. So, when He does not send the rainbows, we need to hold on to what we know about Him. Hold on to the truth. Hold on to His promises. Remember how faithful He has already been and keep watching, because eventually, I believe the rainbow will come. His mercies are new every single day. Joy will come in the morning. Praise God! Hang on friends. Hang on to Jesus.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (NLT)

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.” (It is Well With My Soul, Horatio G. Spafford, 1873)