Listen to today’s devo!

Rejoice in the Lord your God, . . . because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. (Joel 2:23)

When we first moved to the farm, I didn’t fully understand the importance of rain. I prayed for sunny days when I wanted to take the kids to the pool. I complained when the rain interrupted my plans. I couldn’t understand why my husband would welcome the rain. But over the years, I began to understand that rain is essential right after seeds are planted. If rain doesn’t come in time, the seeds never sprout and push their little shoots up through the soil toward the sun. In that case, my farmer husband would have to replant the field, spending more money and time on planting. Getting rain at the proper time is the difference between raising a crop and having money for the bills versus penny-pinching and financial worries. Rain is something to rejoice over.

The people of Joel’s time must have been so thankful to God for his provision of rain after drought, dried up fields, and locust plagues. On the other side of the people’s repentance, God showed great compassion through “abundant showers . . . as before.”

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary states, “The renewed rain thus becomes another outward symbol of an inward reality, a restored fellowship with God.”1 Just like the rain after a period of drought brings green, lush fields, a restored relationship with God brings spiritual growth, healing, and wholeness.

Ask God to bring restoring rain into your soul.

Beth Gormong is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and serves at Wesleyan Publishing House. She spends her free time at the library reading and writing books.

© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.