Here is That Rainbow I've Been Praying For

Yesterday I was listening to the downpour of rain. I knew the outdoor event I was attending would be postponed. But, we had seen the forecast, so it was already planned that the event would resume later in the day when the rain was gone. I thought about this old song:
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

Oh yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

Don’t those words express how we feel when, at last, the verdict comes out in our favor? Or, when the medical procedure or test reveals no disease? Or the baby is delivered after many hours of labor? Or the final exam grades were good enough to pass or even to earn a scholarship? Or any other test or trial that we go through that seems to have no end, but THEN, the bright, sun-shining day makes its way through to us.

Now, we’re singing a song of rejoicing because the obstacles that seemed insurmountable, the dark clouds, the pain, and the rain, are gone. All along God was there and we see the results of the work He has been doing in our lives. Oh, happy day! When we are going through difficult times, it is hard to see God’s Master Plan at work and, for goodness sake, we wonder what benefit could He possibly have in mind in the midst of our trials. The wait. Oh, the patience we must have during the wait. Why, Lord, does it take so long? Again, we hear. “Be patient, my child, I am working all things for your good. I promise you, you will thank me later.”

The Apostle James expressed it this way: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4). Count it for joy? Seriously?

In God’s grand scheme of things…..the trials and the tests make us stronger. Our spiritual and moral fiber is being strengthened. Our story will soon have silver linings and it will be one, not only for the record books, but it will be a story that glorifies God and gives testimony to others of God’s amazing grace.

So now, we carry on. We pick up our swords and our crosses and we carry them with honor to the finish line. It won’t be much longer and it will be a bright sun-shining day again. The rainbow that we’ve been praying for will soon appear. What if trials of this life -- the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are God’s mercies in disguise?

“Weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning.” Psalm 30:5.

Happy Days Are Here Again

My first mistake yesterday morning was to scroll through some of my newsfeeds and saw “renewed hostility and determination” between the donkeys and the elephants to win their political wars. I thought, "What sad days!" But that attitude changed: "Wait just a minute! I am a child of God and I know God is still in charge of it all! Suddenly, the words “Happy Days” flashed through my mind. I knew God was helping me “renew my mind”.

I remembered the lyrics of an old song: “Happy days are here again, the skies above are clear again, so, let's sing a song of cheer again, happy days are here again!” I traced down the song's origin and found that it was written in tribute to the Armistice of November 11, 1918, which was the agreement that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War 1.

Then that wonderful “Oh Happy Day” song, rang in my ears – a song that many artists recorded, and the movie “Sister Act”, made it popular again. It was even a crowd pleaser when our Masters IV Quartette belted it out.

In these times, it almost seems that those songs and endeavors for peace, love, and happiness are impossible. But, "nothing is impossible" with God. What’s going on in politics and our world doesn’t define our happiness. Those thoughts pale in contrast to those of us who rise to the 30,000 feet view that our Father has when He looks at us and this world. I found a “happy days” scripture for us in Psalm 144:15 “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Because of the resurrection of Christ and the good news that we will live in peace and harmony forever with Him, should cause God’s people to be the happiest people on the face of the earth!

It is sad that there are a lot of unhappy, discouraged, miserable, and hopeless people in this world. But that should never describe God’s people. There is truly nothing to be discouraged about in this life if He is part of it! But that’s the key, Jesus has to have the lead role, the starring part and be our main focus!

Yes, things happen, problems come and go, as they always do, but there is nothing, in any of our lives that can’t be overcome with the Lord’s help. He is an overcoming, death-defying, grace giving, problem-solving, all forgiving, amazingly awesome good God! As Christians, we of all people should be happy about our lot in life. We should be ecstatic! We have been forgiven of all the sins, we have ever done or will do, only by the precious grace of Jesus that God sent to us oh so long ago.

It makes you wonder, why in the world aren’t more people able to get their hearts wrapped around this life-giving, life-changing message that Jesus has given to whosoever will believe? It was a message, that was so important for God to get to us, that He was willing to sacrifice and give up His one and only Son, so we could have it! I’m telling you today if you know, and I mean truly know the Son of God, you have a reason to be singing continuously, "Oh Happy Day....when Jesus washed my sins away!"