Waiting out the Storm
October
I was watching the endless rain. Saturday, Sunday and now a third day of gray drizzle continued as I found my way to work on a cold damp Monday morning. Folks came in telling stories of swollen creeks and flooded roads as the earth could no longer soak in the deluge.
There would probably be ruined crops of some kind and delays for work that stood idle because the angry clouds chased away any attempt at building or repairing. And children, who anticipated a glorious week of spring break vacation, would now be huddled in front of TVs lost in their virtual world where rain doesn't matter.
I thought of our reaction to rain today and how different it was to that of men in Noah's day. How, for many decades after the flood, they must have watched the heavens nervously each time it rained hoping God's anger was not unleashed against them again. And then with the end of rain a sigh of relief at the rainbow's appearance.
We no longer fear the rain because we've learned that God's promises are true. In life as well as in the seasons, a little rain must fall, but eventually, the sun does shine and there is a rainbow waiting for all.
Discussion Questions
- Describe a period in your life when you endured prolonged suffering (illness, family issues, economic loss, etc).
- What was the main feeling or emotion you experienced?
- What one lesson did this period teach you?
- In your opinion, aside from personal spiritual growth, why else does God allow us to suffer long periods of challenges?
- If you could, what is the one piece of advice you would give to help someone who was "waiting out the storm" in their life?
- How would you answer a non-believer who was challenging the validity of your faith based on what they saw as unfair treatment of the innocent by making them suffer?
- For example, a baby has Leukemia.
- Compose a prayer that you would pray if the family of that sick baby asked you to pray for their baby.
- Each in the group share your prayer when completed.