Dancing in the Rain

I was recently asked to give the opening devotion at a Christian women’s one-day retreat.  “Is there a theme passage for the conference?” because I thought, I can poke around on that a little bit, do some word-study, go off on a tangent.  But was told “nope, no theme passage.”   Well, you know me:  not a problem for Deb!  I can always find something woman-y, encouragement-y to talk about, right?   Plus I know how God drops little nuggets in my path. 

   

The next morning, I was getting ready for work and was already thinking about the conference title “Dancing in the Rain”.   A few minutes later I sat down to read my morning devotion, and the reading for that day was Psalm 30.   As I read through the psalm little images popped into my mind as I thought about King David (or even myself!) in these various predicaments:  a little white face looking up from the bottom of a dark & dank pit or crawling up from a musty, horrible grave!    I imagined God’s hand reaching for me and how I’d feel secure and safe.     

As I got to the end of the verses—oh my!  My wonderful heavenly Father was reaching for my hand and there I was twirling around like His little princess, in a beautiful frilly dress—and it goes flying out in ripples—and oh! my dress is the color of JOY, and out of my mouth comes this impossibly beautiful song that no way! can I keep it in:   my heart is overflowing, I just can’t keep quiet!   Look what He’s done for me! 

I knew that this last verse (in green below) was just perfect for the opening devotion for this conference.  NOTE:  I left in the divisions where we read responsively at the conference.  

  

Psalm 30

A psalm.  A song.  For the dedication of the temple.  Of David.

L:  I will exalt you, Lord,

A:  for You lifted me out of the depths

B:  and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

L:  Lord my God, I called to You for help,

A+B:  and You healed me.

L:  You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

A+B:  You spared me from going down to the pit.

L:  Sing the praises of the Lord, you His faithful people; praise His holy name!

A:  For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.

B:  Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

L:  When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”

A:  Lord, when You favored me You made my royal mountain stand firm;

B:  but when You hid Your face, I was dismayed.

L:   To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:

ALL: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?

B:  Will the dust praise You? 

A:  Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

L:   Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

ALL: Lord, be my help!”

B:  You turned my wailing into dancing;

A:  You removed my sackcloth

A+B: and clothed me with joy,

L:  that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.
ALL: O Lord my God, I will You thanks & praise You forever!

You might have a lot going on in your life right now.  Dusty windowsills.   A dirty toilet bowl.  A pile of laundry.  Too much to do and not enough time to do it.  Fear.  Sadness.  Sorrow.   My dear!  He knows exactly where you are and what’s going on.  Sure, there are times when He lets you flail around, but would your faith ever grow if it wasn’t tested and prodded to mature and grow?  

You might be standing at the bottom of a very deep pit right now, looking up, wailing miserably, wondering if God has any clue, if He’s even listening because it sure seems like you’re talking to an empty room!  

Certainly there are times when it seems our prayers are unheard, but you are His daughter!!  He NEVER stops listening—He hears every syllable.   More than anything He wants to have a lifelong, eternal conversation with each of us. 

You might be going through a really rough time, maybe you think God is hiding His face from you to punish you for sins in your past.  Sister, please remember He loves you.   He’s already healed you from the worst thing that could ever happen to you—He couldn’t imagine spending a single moment without you, so He sent His son to Calvary to pay the price for all the sins that are weighing you down.  He took the drab prison clothes and draped you with a magnificent gown of the most exquisite fabric.  Christ is right now in heaven working on YOUR room in his mansion.    

REMEMBER this:  when we place our confidence in the Lord and what He is doing through us—we CAN praise the Lord.  We can dance in the rain because the Lord is dancing there with us.   Think of every woman you know.   Each one has gone or is right now going through some kind of trial or trouble or struggle.  Most of us will go through MANY trials before we get to Heaven. 

The Lord has put us here, together, at just this time, at just this place as part of His magnificent plan.  Christian sisters—today.  At home, in our churches.  To minister to each other.  And for Him.  The Lord is sending showers of blessings.   And our heavenly Father has clothed us with the Joy of His salvation.  

In our lives--sunshine or rain--we can sing for joy and not be silent because with our eyes focused on Jesus, letting Him lead the way, our lives will be filled with praise and we can dance in the rain!  

Dear Lord, thank You for bringing us to this moment.   Thank You for each woman reading this prayer, with whatever burdens she is carrying.  Lord, help us to drop all our burdens and cares on Your shoulders and to trust You even when we’re walking through a dark valley.   Walk with us, Lord, through difficulties.  Lift us when we stumble.   Carry us when we just can’t.  Rain Your blessings on us, Lord, and help us dance in the rain and sing Your praises daily.    Send your Holy Spirit to be with us each day, bless the words from our mouths that we might encourage one another; give us courage in whatever role You’ve assigned us, to be better disciples and and wives and mothers and daughters and sisters and friends.  Lord my God, let us praise You forever! Amen.

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