I have a friend who lost his wife to cancer a while back. They had been married for over 30 years and were best friends since high school. Their sons had grown up and were successful. Just when they thought they would step into this new season to travel and enjoy each other’s company, she came down with this sickness. For months and months, he took care of her and treated her like a queen. She fought the good fight of faith and ended up graduating to heaven. It was very difficult on him. He’s a strong man with a deep faith, but it was harder than anything he imagined. He told me how he felt so lost, so empty, so alone at his house at night. He’d reach over in bed, and she wasn’t there anymore. He never dreamed life was going to turn out that way. He was in a drought. He could have gotten bitter and depressed. It would have been easy to settle in that empty place, but he understood that the droughts happen. There are dry seasons when we feel empty, but that is not the end of the story. Rain is coming. The scripture says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
In the natural, rain can take a dry, barren place and bring new life. It may have been that way for a month, a year or even 20 years, but when the rain comes, things that seem dead begin to bloom, blossom and flourish. They just needed some rain. You may think life is over and done in the loss of a loved one, loss of a dream, loss of a relationship, feeling lonely and empty. But no, all you need is some rain. The God we serve is saying, “I’m going to send rain to your barren places. It’s not over. I’m going to rain down new opportunities, new relationships, new ideas and new dreams.”
Not long ago this same friend met a young lady who had never been married before. They hit it off and started dating. Recently, they got engaged. Now he’s got that spring back in his step. He has new vision for the future. He’s received a double portion on this earth. His weeping endured for a night, but joy has come in the morning.
Today, if you’re in that dry place. Know that joy is coming. You may be in a drought, but rain is headed your way. This is your year to bloom, to blossom, to flourish. It’s your year to see new growth and new opportunities. God is going to give you beauty for those ashes, and the end of the drought will come!
“. . . weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, KJV)