Thank God for the Rain

A few weeks ago, I watched an Apple documentary called The Elephant Queen, about an elephant tribe’s journey from the wilderness of the desert land to the “king land.” This tribe had a matriarch or queen leading them on their journey to find land with plentiful food and clean water. Traveling to this promised land, the elephant tribe experienced some trials. Some lost their newborn babies due to lack of nutrients in their milk, an effect of traveling for days and weeks through land that was desert, no water, no food. Others birthed healthy newborns, bringing new life to take the place of those lost. Through it all, the queen elephant led her tribe, finally, to the land that was plenteous. When the tribe arrived, they were met by other tribes, which totaled at least a thousand elephants. Everything seemed great for the time being.

The cameras showed them enjoying the sun, gathering around the river to drink as much water as their heart’s desired. But the joyous time was short-lived. As the sun beamed down upon them steadily, there was no rain in sight. The elephants eventually went through a drought. Food dried up. Water was nowhere to be found, and the elephant queen was faced with a decision: relocate her tribe again, or stay. Both options were risky, as there would be no water between locations. There was a chance they would die if they stayed and a chance they would die if they left.

As I watched, it hit me that what these elephants so desperately needed is what we, as humans, take for granted. What we complain about when it comes: rain. Oh, rain. Rain is so beautiful, so nourishing, yet such an inconvenience at times. It seems to rain at what we consider the worst of times, right? We wash our cars, and it rains. We get our hair done in the latest style, and it rains. We wear our favorite outfit, and it rains. We buy tickets for the baseball game, and it rains. What God created to be a nourishment to his land, to his people, to his animals, many of us see as an annoyance.

After watching The Elephant Queen, I repented and began to thank God for his rain. As I watched those elephants, some of them died from lack of resources. The main one was rain. If it had rained, the earth would have been wet enough for the trees to blossom and leaf out, providing food. If it had rained, there would have been water for them to drink. The one thing the elephants needed most, they lacked.

I thought about how rain may seem like an annoyance when it is falling from the sky, but it is not. How can we say that the things of God, the things he has called into existence for our benefit, are an inconvenience? The animals need the rain; the earth needs the rain; we need the rain. I shifted my focus and perspective on rain. If we had no rain, no rivers, no reservoirs, we would have no water supply. The other day, the rain poured down, the winds blew heavily, and when I was tempted to be irritated, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me of The Elephant Queen. I found myself whispering a thank you to God for his abundance. I thought, Somewhere, rain is needed. I prayed that the rain would do its work, and that whoever was in need of it would receive it. As I watched the heavy rain falling from my window at work, I said within my heart, Lord, let it rain!

The elements of nature that we find annoying, the things we find to be an inconvenience, those that don’t appear to have the right timing, and even what appears to be a bad circumstance, God may be using as the spiritual rain we need to thrive. As the physical rain can give life to those need it, our spiritual rain can give life to the seeds inside us through the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5: 22–23, we see the fruits of the Holy Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I read this passage of Scripture, and I sense the restfulness of it in my soul. Let’s read this part of the passage again: “Against such things there is no law.” Jesus came, died for our sins, was resurrected, and now is seated on the throne at the right hand of God. His sacrifice was the greatest spiritual rainstorm of all.

It is my hope that you will begin to pray for God to open the floodgates of heaven and rain down his blessings, his mercies, his unlimited grace upon you and the people around you in Jesus’ name. Sometimes what blesses others—rain, for example—may seem like an inconvenience to us. We must not rebuke any of God’s blessings but embrace all that God provides.

Ebony H. Brooks is an author, writer, and businesswoman who was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. and currently resides in North Carolina. She has written three books: Failing Forward into God’s Purpose, What’s Your Fish?: The Story of Jonah, and It Is Time. Her podcast “Let’s Talk: The Journey to Moving Forward” is in its third season and can be heard wherever podcasts are available. She encourages others in the Word of the Lord on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Photograph © Johnny Chen, used with permission