Imagine that first drop of rain to cascade from sky to earth. You might picture it falling somewhere near Adam as he looks up with wide-eyed delight. But, actually, in those antediluvian days (before the Great Flood) there was not rain, as we know it. Moses, the author of Genesis, explains: “There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” (2:6) God created a global sprinkler system, so to speak. Plant life thrived by a consistent, subterranean water source. Adam and Eve would not have been familiar with the kind of rainstorms we’re well accustomed to here in the South. So then, you can imagine the curiosity, shock and horror of that first generation to experience rainfall. It was Noah’s generation and it was to be a rainfall like none other - before it or after it. The waters from above joined forces with the waters from below to induce a worldwide deluge.

After the ordeal that Noah and his family endured, God offered a token of peace and comfort – the rainbow, as a symbol of His covenant. There would be no encores. He would never again destroy the earth by water. This story is so familiar that it’s easy to move past the Rainbow Promise quickly. But, imagine how precious the promise seemed to those who experienced the second rainstorm. As they huddled under some covering amid the downpour, lightening and thunder, you can bet, they were glad for the promise. The rainbow must have dazzled with a special beauty for them as they looked for it and cherished what it stood for.

Noah lived 350 years after the Flood and in those three and a half centuries, he watched humanity fall into decadence yet again. It didn’t take long for the hearts of men to abandon their reverence for and reliance on the Almighty. As Noah watched the rainfall, did his mind wander back to that violent, unholy generation that first brought down the skies? I can imagine the cold chill of re-living the memory of God’s judgment unleashed on the earth. But, after each storm, the colorful symbol of God’s promise shone in the skyline as a message of hope. It was a reminder that there is nothing broken that cannot be made new. The earth had been destroyed, but also reborn. Life thrived once again. And, very soon, a Redeemer was to come; a Redeemer who would bring new life to the hearts of men. Like the rainbow, He would bring hope. He would be hope.

For those of you in the storm and deluged by hardship, let me offer you the promise of the rainbow: It’s going to stop raining. Like the rain, life happens in cycles – a series of ups and downs. Your current cycle of difficulty will eventually give way (either here or in glory) to much brighter skies. For the Believer, there is no permanent hardship, only brief cycles to endure for a short while.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, NIV)

Rain has a way of cleansing and causing growth, doesn’t it? So, does adversity. If you will seek His face, if you will praise His name, if you will trust Him through your troubles - the ‘eternal glory will far outweigh’ the trial. Live in each moment fully, but keep your eyes on the eternal. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3, NIV) The secret to renewed strength despite the storm is the coinciding Rainbow of Hope. In everything, keep your eyes on Christ.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV)

Liz Miller lives in Daphne with her husband Matt and son, Logan. She looks forward to responding to your thoughts, prayer requests and guest speaker invitations, please write to millerfam3@hotmail.com.