Milli Vanilli was a popular music act in the 1980s and 90s that became more famously known for their lip-syncing scandal (a sermon illustration for another day…). Their song “Blame It On the Rain” topped the Billboard charts and is advising the listener to “blame it on the rain” and other natural elements after leaving their love interest and regretting it.
As I write this article, it is a rainy weekday morning. It’s the type of weather that has a mixed bag of opinions. Some love a rainy day and feel cozy inside watching the raindrops fall outside their window. Some love a rainy day, but only if they can be at home, curled up on their couch, petting their dog, and watching a movie. Still others cannot stand a rainy day, the general idea being that it makes everything dreary and messes up all the plans. I imagine you fit somewhere on that spectrum.
Whether you “blame” the rain for a bad day or are drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying the rain on your roof as you read this article, there is one constant—the rain falls either way. Life is full of rainy days. Not necessarily the storms of life, but just days where things don’t go exactly how we planned or wanted…weather or otherwise. Sometimes work is hard; not so hard you can’t stand it…just a rough day. Sometimes your family is difficult; not so difficult you can’t stand to be around them anymore…just a rough day. Life has rainy days…so what do we do with them?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we see God’s instruction through Paul’s words to always be thankful: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are often pointed to scripture like this in the worst storms we face in life. But sometimes…sometimes…we just need to be encouraged to be thankful on a rainy day.
Let’s learn to rejoice in the “rainy” days.
Prayer: God, thank you for the rain. Give us strength to rejoice in it. Help us to be Easter people. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Aaron
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