Let it Rain

Welcome everyone to my very first blog post for Life in a Tizzy!  

I'm so nervous for some reason!  Although I didn't invision my first post being so deep, I have to write what is on my heart. This has been a tough few weeks for many of my very good friends.  My heart has been heavy, and words have been floating around in my mind constantly.  I decided to get them all out here (well at least some of them)!  I hope it brings comfort to at least one person who reads along. 

Let it Rain

Life is not always sunshine and rainbows.  Sometimes, more often than not, we experience seasons of rain.  Lots and lots of rain!  

This summer in Georgia, we had ourselves many “gully washers,” as we like to say in the south.  It rained non-stop!  When you are a mother of 2 energetic boys, this is no vacation at all!  All of my dreams of outside sunny adventures turned to dust...or should I say mud!  Instead, we were often cooped up in the house together for hours on end.  I quickly became “that” mom, the one that lets her children spend hours upon hours playing mind-numbing video games, and watching the same episode of “Teen Titans Go” for the bajillionth time!  The alternative would have been WWF wrestling matches in my living room!  All of my home decor would have been ruined, and I would have ended up in a sure-fire TIZZY!  Rainy days make life unpredictable.  It makes us on edge.  It makes us feel out of control and without a plan.  It’s not like a vacation at all.  It’s hard and exhausting.  We just want the rain to stop, so that we can get back to finding our joy and chasing our dreams.

On the flip side, the earth needs rain.  During seasons of drought, we pray for rain.  For farmers, rain is essential to grow their crops.  In California, people are praying for rain to put out the devastating fires that are taking their lives and homes.  In 3rd world countries, villages depend on rainfall for basic necessities.  Rain brings life.  Rain sustains life.

Some of us are in the midst of torrential downpours, rattling thunderstorms, and those are terrifying! It feels like it will never stop.  We can’t keep our heads above the water.

The rain in my life is anxiety.  It’s not always present, but it comes like a storm.  I have friends battling cancer who are longing to be restored to health.  I have other friends battling addiction who have the feeling of drowning, because everything feels too hard.  That is some heavy rain!  I pray for these friends constantly, with almost every breath I take.

However, God is IN the rain.  God is washing all of our impurities away, whether that be an illness or negative thoughts and behaviors that are keeping us far from the truth.  Rain brings rebirth.  Rain makes things new.  If rain never fell, we would never grow.

Scripture tells us, “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.” - Psalm 91:2

“No disaster can overtake you, no plague come near your tent; He has given His angels orders about you, to guard you wherever you go.” - Psalm 91: 10-11

Trust that there has NEVER been a storm that has not run out of rain.  During these violent storms in life, seek shelter in TRUTH.  That truth comes from God.  Turn off the voices of self-doubt in your own head.  Let God carry you through the hard times.  He promises to give you strength for every battle, wisdom for every decision, and peace that passes understanding.  

My friends, I urge you to look for the rainbow.  Look to God’s promise that the rain will stop.  I don’t know what you might be facing in life, or what rain you are either praying for, or against.  There will always be rain, but there will always be sunshine that follows. Let the rain make you new.  Celebrate the rain.  

This past summer, despite the rain, the boys and I learned a few important lessons.  Lessons that have made our crazy household run a little smoother.  Today, we look back and miss those lazy days of summer!  However, we are all excited to move into the new season of fall. The weather is finally getting cooler and football season is in full swing! Just like the seasons change, so can we.  It's a perfect opportunity for new beginnings!

Life can get us all in a tizzy, but there's always second chances in tomorrow.

- Tracie