RAIN BRINGS SMILES
La Lluvia Produce Sonrisas
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2015
It has been a very long dry spell. [Photographer: Mary Hunt Webb.*]
Here in the rain-starved southwestern desert, we have had more than a decade of drought with rainfall totaling far below our average of ten inches a year. Gardening has been difficult because regular watering from a garden hose or sprinklers does not supply enough water to produce decent tomatoes or other food crops.
I had wanted to plant a fruit tree, but I knew it would not do any good as long as the drought lasted. The sapling would merely wilt. So, I waited. I knew the drought would end eventually. I only needed to be patient.
Now, we hope we have broken out of that dry weather pattern because we have been blessed in the past few months with glorious rain.
Farmers, gardeners, and even small children are happy with the rain. [Photographer: Deb Jencks. Photo courtesty of Stockvault.net.]
While we are hesitant to get our hopes up too much, we are optimistic that this wet trend will continue. Like many others, I had prayed for rain. I had also read the Bible and trusted verses such as Psalm 68:9 that said, "You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance." (New International Version) I had only to wait for the answer.
Although there are weather patterns that meteorologists understand better than most of us, some prayers seem to get answered immediately while others take longer. The answers to our prayers may not always take the form we desire, but God is faithful to respond to the prayers of those that love Him and that have accepted His Son as Lord and Savior. Sometimes the answer is, "Wait." Other times, the answer is, "No." When the answer is, "No," we must trust God that He knows something about the situation that we don’t know and that He probably has something better in mind for us than the request we made.
I understand that trusting God and waiting for His timing and His proper response is something that many people find difficult to do. However, impatience and premature action may cause their own set of problems. That is why it is important to rely on the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6, which advises, "5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (New King James Version)
BIBLE VERSES FOR THIS POSTING
Psalm 68:9 - You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.. (New International Version)
Salmos 68:9 - Abundante lluvia esparciste, oh Dios; A tu heredad exhausta tú la reanimaste. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Proverbs 3:5-6 - 5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (New King James Version)
Proverbios 3:5-6 – 5) Fíate de Jehová de todo tu corazón, Y no te apoyes en tu propia prudencia. 6) Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, Y él enderezará tus veredas. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Recent rains have produced smiles similar to the one that this young lady displays. [Photographer: Dam Duc, Photo courtesty of Stockvault.net.]
* Please do not use our original photos without our permission. These include photos by Mary Hunt Webb, Morris Webb, Jr., Morris Webb, Sr., and C.B. Hunt. Thank you.
