Dancing in the Rain

Guest Post by Author Lauri Lemke Thompson

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33.

“This is great. I love it!” shouted my husband, laughing as he enjoyed the pool, paddling over to the swim-up bar to grab a soda and chat with fellow visitors at the Bahamian resort—as the rain poured down on us.

We had arranged for a one-day pass to this beautiful oceanside complex. Both air and water temperatures were warm, so he wasn’t going to let a little rain dampen his spirits. I would have liked less precipitation that day, but I had to smile watching him. 

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain,” I read recently (Anonymous). My spouse wasn’t exactly dancing, but he had clearly determined to have fun that day, despite the showers.

But what of the figurative rain that so often falls on our lives: Can we dance in the rain then? And do we even look for the silver lining that may be hiding in the ugly dark cloud of that sickness, loss, accident, or hurt?

I would argue that without those rainy experiences I’d fail to appreciate the sunnier times. Furthermore, when God enables me to dance in dark times, my celebration is rich. If He reveals a hidden blessing to me as one of life’s storms rages, my gratitude is deep.

When I’m smack dab in the middle of a drenching, my own happiness sometimes startles me. “How come you’re happy? How can you be?” I ask myself. I have no answer except the joy the Lord gives.

The Bible often teaches us to remember God’s marvelous works. Don’t the uplifted spirit and inner calm God provides at such times qualify as His marvelous works? They become something to cherish with hope when the next downpour comes. And it will. Both experience and God’s Word prove that.

Psalm 138:7 says “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. . . .” Finally, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. 

Peace. Good cheer. Revival. A Merry Heart. God promises we can have all of the above, not just when skies are sunny and clear, but in the middle of life’s storms. Your storm may feel like an unending tempest today, but even as it howls on, cling to your loving Father who made those encouraging promises, and trust Him to provide all you need. 

“Events are less important than our responses to them.”  John Hersey

(All Scripture are NKJV). 

A Wisconsin native, Lauri Lemke Thompson appreciates living in the lovely Ozark mountains in Branson, Missouri. She is active in Christian Women’s Connection (Stonecroft) and the Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers. Her two books,Hitting Pause and Pressing Forward, are collections of her columns, articles and devotions. Her bimonthly column appears in the Branson Globe newspaper.