Longing for a Downpour

Sunday night, January 20, as I was preaching, I heard a large clap of thunder. Then I heard what I thought was a downpour of rain hitting the roof of the church. No one else seemed to notice, and so I immediately dismissed it as I continued to preach. After the service as people were leaving the church, I noticed that they were congregating in the lobby. This was rather unusual. I looked out to see what was taking place and realized that they had been stopped because of the pouring rain. Nobody wanted to venture out, knowing they would be quickly soaked.

We rejoiced at the sight. It seems that the West end of the island gets most of the rain, while we are merely getting a sprinkle – if even that. We were happy to see the rain. Our plants would be watered, and our cisterns would be filled. Then one week later, we had another gully washer! Micki and I enjoyed the sight, sound and smell of the rain as we sat on the front porch.

This brought to my mind a number of scriptures regarding the “former and latter” rains. A careful examination of the Scriptures brings us to conclude that these verses are talking about literal rain – just like we had here in Cayman Brac. Even so, the very thought makes us long for a spiritual parallel. Our hearts are thirsty for a spiritual drenching. We long for a downpour of God’s presence in our services. Our hearts ache to see our spirits, which are parched and dry, be refreshed, revived, renewed by the rain of God moving down upon us.

Habakkuk the prophets says what I feel in my heart in chapter 3, verse 2. The KJV says, “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”

No matter what version of the Bible you prefer, the message is the same: “God, you have done great things for your people in the past. We deserve judgment, but we plead for two things. Give us mercy and give us the spiritual blessings that you poured out on your people in the past.”

That is my prayer and my longing today. I hope that you will join me in calling upon God for an outpouring of His presence and blessing on the people in Cayman Brac. Many are away from God and need to come back to Him. We all need a revival of spirituality.

To read this month's issue of The Harvest Times, click here.