There is an old song that says ”Into each life some rain must fall but too much is falling into mine.” It is raining now and has been for days; the flu and a relapse have put our mood and the weather in perfect harmony.

It is sometimes hard to remember that it is the rain that brings the flowers. In the song the rain represents the trials and tribulations of life, and the author is complaining that he has received too much trouble. This cannot happen to us. God will never allow us to receive too much rain. Whatever comes is allowed by God and He knows best what we need. There is a great deal of comfort for those who really believe this. It is purely a lack of faith to agree with the sentiments of the song. When the rain begins to fall in our lives the natural thing is to feel sorry for ourselves. Actually self pity is one of the worst forms of egotism. In order to feel sorry for oneself one must be thinking only of self.

God wants us to forget ourselves and think of others. When we fill our minds with loving thoughts for others and think of their needs, we automatically forget about ourselves.

We know that God sends the rain, and we are thankful that He is in control of the weather. The same God that is in control of the weather is also watching over us, and Jesus reminded us, ”are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” Jesus then comforts us with the fact that we ”are of more value than many sparrows.”

Believing this we can declare with Paul, ”Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities.” To the Romans Paul wrote, ”we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.”

While the trial is going on, it is not a joy but grievous It is only afterward that it ”yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” Even though the trial seems difficult, it is so much easier to bear when we truly believe that all things really are working together for our good. In order to stay buoyant in the face of adversity we need to continually remind ourselves that our lives are ”hid with Christ in God.”

If this is true, and it really is, then we can have a heart to heart talk with ourselves as David did when he was discouraged. He asked and answered the question, ”Why art thou downcast 0 my soul? and why are thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

We are certainly not the first nor the last to feel discouraged. The answer is to hope in God. He cares, He knows, He has promised never to try us beyond that which we are able to bear but will always with the trial provide the way of escape that we may be able to bear it. Bearing it often means to simply grit our teeth and hang on, patiently waiting for God’s deliverance.

For some, the deliverance may not come until the return of Christ or falling asleep, but even this can be accepted when we view our troubles as ”our light affliction which is but for a moment, which worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Paul looked forward to the ”crown of righteousness which was laid up for him.” When we believe that there is a crown of glory waiting for us, too, then we can accept with thanksgiving whatever the Lord in His love sends our way. Like Job, our trial may pass, but whether it does or not, we know that the Lord will bless our latter end more than our beginning and soon God will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

With this hope we can say, ”let it rain, let it rain, for soon we shall shine as the brightness of the firmament... and as the stars for ever and ever.”