After years of living through a historic drought, the rains came and didn’t stop. More than 20 inches of rain in just a few months. The once-dry lakes suddenly overflowing. Weeks and weeks without sunshine.
What started as a blessing, became a burden. Initially, the rain was an annoyance as weekend after weekend saw canceled plans, rained out sports events, waterlogged playgrounds, and mosquitos visibly thick in the air. Then the storms turned deadly and destructive, with tornados and devastating flooding, property ruined and lives lost.
Are storms raging in your life today?
Does it feel like the sun will never shine again?
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Do you wonder when the rain will let up?
Have hope! After the storm, the sun WILL shine again!
Let God be your umbrella, your shelter from the storm.
As we moved from extreme drought to historic flooding, I’m reminded we will face many trials in this life. Each season brings its own challenges.
What defines us is how we face each challenge.
When storm clouds gather on the horizon, you grab your umbrella and tune into the weather report. You heed warnings and trust the forecasters to keep you safe.
These are all good steps to take when the rain begins to fall, but don’t forget the best shelter of all – God. Umbrellas will fail and forecasts are flawed, but God will never leave your side. He is your refuge and shelter from any storm in your life.
So, no matter the storm you’re facing – from the sky or from life – place your trust in God and find safe harbor in his arms.
After the storm the sun will shine again.
In a brief respite from the rain, I noticed blue skies and a shining sun. I was reminded that behind every storm is at least a little sunshine. The rains will clear, the sun will shine again, and God’s promises are always true.
After the great flood, God gave Noah the sign of a rainbow as his promise to never again flood the earth. A rainbow does give us that first glimmer of hope, a sign that there is indeed sunshine beyond the clouds, but it’s the sun and blue skies that reaffirm that promise for me – even if they only make a fleeting appearance.
Behind every storm God brings at least a little sunshine. Click To TweetAnd God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” – Genesis 9:12-15 (NIV)
Look for the blessings in the storm.
Rain is nourishing. Water is cleansing.
Yet, too much rain causes flooding. Big storms cause destruction.
Where is your focus in the storm?
Choose to look for the blessings in your storms. How is the storm cleansing and refining you? Where do you see God more clearly in these trials? How is this bringing out the best in you and in those around you?
God doesn’t punish us with the storms of life, but he does ride them out with us. He can use them to make us new – to refine and remodel us through the process.
Take hope! After the storm comes the calm.
Maybe you’re living through a storm. Maybe the rains haven’t let up in your life for longer than you care to remember. Maybe what began as an annoyance or small problem has turned into much more. Maybe you’ve been caught by a sudden, raging storm that’s showing no signs of letting up.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Look around you for the rainbow and hold onto the glimmer of hope that rainbows mean the sun is somewhere behind those clouds.
Watch for the sun to shine again, even if only for a fleeting moment.
Pause and bask in its warmth. Enjoy the brightness of its light.
Hold onto hope and remember God is there with you in the storm, even when the skies seem dark.
Remember that after the storm, the sun will shine again!
Believe the rain will clear, the sun will shine, and God's promises are true. Click To Tweet“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Trusting God – 4 Weeks to Find Peace and Strength Through the Storm
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This study dives deep into the Scriptures that have been most influential in my own life, learning to turn to God first and trust him with my life. Each chapter focuses one of these four keys to trusting God, exploring examples in Scripture and discussing practical ways to use that key in your life.
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Ready to find more peace and strength in the hard times of your life? Want a better way to face your trials? Trusting God is the answer and this study will take you through practical steps and guided prayers to learn how to trust God with the storms in your life.
20 Quotes to Remember There is Always Sunshine After the Storm
1) “After every storm there is a rainbow.” ~Shannon Adler
2) “Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength.” ~Corrie Ten Boom
3) “I’m thankful for my struggle, because without it I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength.” ~Alex Elle
4) “When trouble comes, focus on God’s ability to care for you.” ~Charles Stanley
5) “After a storm comes a calm.” ~Matthew Henry
6) “Every storm runs out of rain, just like every dark night turns into day.” ~Gary Allen
7) “Storms don’t come to teach us painful lessons, rather they were meant to wash us clean.” ~Shannon L. Alder
8) “No storm can last forever. It will never rain 365 days consecutively. Keep in mind that trouble comes to pass, not to stay. Don’t worry! No storm, not even the one in your life, can last forever.” ~Iyanla Vanzant
9) “You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you.” ~Joseph VB. Wirthlin
10) “Even in the midst of the storm the sun is still shining.” ~Dayna Lovely
11) “If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” ~Morris West
12) “No matter what storm you face, you need to know God loves you. He has not abandoned you.” ~Franklin Graham
13) “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” ~Psalm 120:1 (NIV)
14) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33 (NIV)
15) “You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall
and like the heat of the desert.
You silence the uproar of foreigners;
as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is stilled.” ~Isaiah 25:4-5 (NIV)
16) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
17) “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” ~Psalm 9:9-10 (NIV)
18) “But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.” ~Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
19) “God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. ~Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
20) “If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.” ~Frank Lane
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Ariëlla says
Thank you so much for writing this post. How terrible are this extremes in your country. Yes, I agree. Behind every storm is at least a little sunshine. And in our storms He will be our good Shepherd. “Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave,I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me, Your rod and staff comfort me”.
In the past, my country has suffered from many floods because we are below sea level. I will pray for Texas.
Kathryn says
Sometimes these extremes are what remind us of God’s power – that He’s so much bigger than us and also walking with us in whatever we face.
Tai East says
Praying for Texas and praying protection over you and your family as well. Infinite blessings to you, Love!
Kathryn says
thankfully we’re safe, but ready for this rain to end! It’s still pouring, but heard a rumor we may see the sun next week 🙂
Tai East says
Glad to know that you guys are safe! 🙂
inspiredtolivefully says
Kathryn,
I was recently in TX and my child’s event had to be relocated because of the rain (we traveled from MD for a competition). And yesterday I experienced a torrential flash flood. The timing of this post is so perfect as resonates with something I posted just yesterday on my social media. I shared that storms show us just how great, mighty and powerful our God is. Yet in the midst of the storm, He provides covering. He is the strong tower we can run to for safety. And surely, even in the midst of the storm, the sun still shines behind the clouds. Thank you for this timely confirmation. Happy to be visiting from Grace & Truth linkup.
Kathryn says
This has been an exceptional year for sure. At least you got to have your event! Most of the kids here have lost most of their spring soccer, baseball and football seasons. Small price compared to the larger destruction and flooding we’re now seeing across the state.
Michele Morin says
Praying for all who are in the floods . . . .Lord, peace and protection for them. Keep their hearts from fear and from danger, and in your mercy, preserve the levees and dams for the protection of all.
Thank you for this brave and encouraging post. I’m your neighbor this morning at the Weekend Brew.
Sarah Washburn says
Thank you so much for this post … your words are so true. Storms are always hard to walk through … but in the end, the sun will shine again!!! Blessings, ~Sarah (visiting from Radical Femininity)
Kathryn says
Sometimes it’s easy to forget the sun does shine, so it was a good reminder that storms do pass and we do move on to new seasons.
Mary Geisen says
Thankful that you are experiencing sun behind the storms. Praying for all in Texas who are in the flood areas and need relief. The analogy of a real storm to the storms of life is so fitting and your words speak truth. Blessed you shared this at The Weekend Brew.
Kathryn says
Enjoying some real sunshine this week – at last! Never thought I’d tire of the rain, but ready for summer now – and some extended sunny weather. (Praying for some sunny weather in life, too)
Christi Gee (@ChristiLGee) says
What an appropriate analogy for a Texan right now. I heard a Texas preacher (You may know him — Rick Atchley from The Hills in Fort Worth) say that we so often wish for “all sunshine and no rain” in our lives, but in reality, “All sunshine and no rain is a recipe for a desert.”
You are right that God is always there, even behind the clouds. It’s in the waiting where we so often falter.
What a beautiful site you have here. So glad to have connected in many ways and looking forward to learning more about your ministry.
Embracing the Journey,
Christi
Kathryn says
So true – we can’t have all sunshine or all rain. Life is a mix of storms and sunshine – and everything in between. It’s most often in those stormy seasons that we grow closest to God and are reminded just how much we need Him and rely on Him. Looking forward to getting to know you, too!
IFEOMA SAMUEL says
Hi Kathyn, I love the way you related the present condition to how God ensures sunshine after every storm we face. I do believe He will make all things ok no matter what we go through.
God Bless