As The Rain Cometh Down

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” ~ Isaiah 55:10-11 

One thing I love to do is walk outdoors while it’s drizzling. Something about the water falling lightly on me has always been oddly refreshing. There’s just something refreshing about water in general, and rain especially. For many people, rain is a thing to hope for – watering gardens and farms, providing that life-giving substance to a dry land, and helping quench people’s hunger and thirst.  

In the passage quoted above, water is used as a metaphor for a similar function – growth. Just as rain and snow come down on a thirsty land and bring refreshment, so the word of God comes on us and renews our hearts, which are in fact pictured as ground ready for planting by Jesus in Matthew 13.  

In this parable, there are 4 types of ground; the way side, the stony ground, the thorny ground, and the good ground. All people fall into one of those four categories when they hear the Gospel, but ultimately, they either receive it, or they don’t. One simple fact remains the same though, regardless of the type of ground: In order for the ground to be ready, it still needs the water. The seed of the Gospel may not take root the first time it is sown, but the water of God’s word will soak in around every obstacle and always refresh it. Sometimes it may take longer to work its way in, but God says it “…shall not return unto me void…” and it will always have an effect, whether you like it or not. Paul said “I have planted, Apollos hath watered, but God giveth the increase” in 1 Corinthians. 

What does your heart look like? Regardless of where you think you are, you still need refreshment from the word of God.