After weeks of sunshine and no rain it was so refreshing to wake up to a shower of rain and smell the freshness of moisture in the air this morning. Just like the freshness of rain, after going through a trying time or a time of waiting and wondering if God is hearing our prayers, the worship song ‘Shout to the Lord’ reminds us that Jesus our Saviour is our everything – our comfort – our shelter – our refuge and our strength. We are not alone no matter what we are having to face in our lives.
This year has been particularly challenging for myself and my family as we have experienced a bereavement, but we have not been alone. Our church family have held us up in prayer and love which has resulted in being assured that we are being carried through the challenges we have had to face. As a church community we are in touch with those folk who at different times have to face difficulties of various kinds. Sometimes it is easy to offer practical support but more often, our constant prayers and keeping in touch with one another is most effective.
As we reach the end of the summer, we look forward to a new season: starting a new job; children starting school for the first time or moving up to a new year group; young people starting college / university or older folk stepping into retirement.
We feel mixture of excitement and trepidation but as Psalm 28.7 reminds us, ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.’ We know that as the rain refreshes the Earth through God’s grace, we will be refreshed.
Many Blessings
Felicity Gibb