Man, New Edition really had a banger of a song with this one. I can’t even remember when I heard the song for the first time, but I do know that I instantly loved it. Even as a child, when my understanding of things was vastly different compared to now, I knew and understood that This song was about how love was supposed to endure trials and tribulations. I would sing this song all the time, I even played it for the girl who would become my wife. The question of Can you stand the rain seems so simple, yet it cannot be answered as simply as it’s asked. For many of us, only through experience do we find out the strength of our resolve. A trial by fire, so to speak. I wasn’t able to stand the rain 6 years ago when tragedy struck. I had a house built on sand, and when the storm came, it was washed away.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10-

In 2016 someone I looked up to, like a big brother and father figure, died. I was at a birthday dinner with some friends, and the message came via text, but I didn’t see it until after the dinner was over, and even reading the news, I didn’t understand what I was reading. My wife, pregnant with our second child, told me that my friend had died. I remember feeling my heart break literally as I said, “what?” this couldn’t be real; this was not happening, I just saw him the night before, and he said he was fine when I asked him how he was. As the night went on, we found out it was a murder-suicide. I just could not believe what was going on, then my wife started having pains, and we rushed to the hospital to ensure she and the baby were fine. After spending half the night in the ER, we went home. That day I went to sleep like I woke up: in tears. I have always mentioned how I had spent two years dealing with depression; this is how the downward spiral began. My world had been rocked, and I had nothing solid to stand on. I was so angry and confused, I didn’t even get to tell him how much he inspired me as a man and father. I directed my anger towards God, asking how he could allow something like this to happen. Why didn’t he intervene or give me a sign so I could help?

After that day, I stopped praying. I didn’t want to hear any sanctimonious platitudes, I just wanted to wallow and do whatever felt good to fill the void left by my friend’s death. All the while, God was still reaching out to me, placing people in my life whom I needed. People who were praying for me and with me even though I couldn’t do it for myself. I had gotten so bad that I wanted to commit suicide myself and tried; The only reason I am still here is that God had a bigger purpose for me. I was covered by the blood of Christ at 15 years old, and because of that my family and friends were spared from having to deal with another loss. This might have created a cycle of death and despair that could’ve lasted for generations to come. I am only here because the power of Jesus gave me the strength to endure.

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace. – Daniel 3: 1-30-

As Christians, our faith will be tested throughout this life, and there is no exception to this. In the book of Daniel, chapter 3, we read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three Hebrew boys who would not worship the false gods of Babylon. They made a choice not to eat the food offered to these idols and not to pray to them, even though it meant certain death. They would not bend to the king’s demands and hold on to their faith. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for execution, but something extraordinary happened as King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he saw not three figures but four. He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” upon seeing this miracle, he released the boys and praised Almighty God. The faith of the three Hebrew boys was their covering and salvation. They withstood not only fear and intimidation but actual bodily harm. They chose to remain faithful through a storm and were saved because of it. When my storm came, I didn’t remain faithful in fact I nearly drowned in the sorrow of it. When God spoke to me the day I came back to Jesus, that was the day I chose to strengthen my faith. Through prayer, reading of the Word, and fellowship am I now able to say that when the next storm comes, I will be able to endure because of Jesus. Storms will come this we know for sure, can You stand the rain?

Thank you for taking the time this week to read this post; you are and will always be appreciated. Life is difficult and that won’t change, but knowing and believing that Jesus goes to bat for at every turn is comforting. Not because it sounds nice but because it is the truth. Can you stand the rain? yes you can because through Christ all things are possible. May God continue to bless you. Be well, God bless, and keep Chasing God’s Way/ve.