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Sometimes when I watch the rain pouring down over the earth I wonder if it
really could be God's own tears; his own release of the sorrow he feels seeing his creation choose to destroy itself and attack one another rather than love each other or love their creator. Perhaps the rain is God's way of releasing his pain and grief watching his beloved children face pain, heartache and injustice- not because they deserve it but because evil is real. The enemy is real. The battle for souls is real. And Satan wants to grab every soul he can as he falls into the pit of Hell. Afterall, misery does love company. And what battle comes without injuries, including severe ones?
God knows he has the final victory, but that does not negate his saddness over the wounds that come during the fight- His love ensures such empathy and compassion.


Jesus wept when Lazarus died, even knowing he was about to raise him from the dead. He saw the pain of Lazarus' sisters and friends- and grieved because this reality was never part of the original creation plan because death was never part of the original creation plan– it came as a result of the fall; disobedience and sin. God created the tree of life- that was the original plan for us! Jesus shows his sorrow over this painful reality- the painful war. 

Yet, God- said to hold each one of our tears in bottles- is restoring all things. He can take what was meant for evil and use it for His good purpose. Our sins- when surrendered to God, become rubies and gemstones which point to the great power of our redeemer. They become a testimony of our God, who can take even the most treacherous sin, the most vile sinner- and transform that sin into a pearl and cleanse that sinner so they are spotless and clean- for His glory. Isn't that what we marvel at when we share our testimonies? The way God has taken our sin- our fleshly grossness- and used it for good? People are amazed because only a supernatural being could possibly turn crap to jewels- yet God can and does! Though sometimes
the process of restoration can feel very long and painful. 


Here's another thought- perhaps rain isn't God's tears, but actually our own. God collects our tears in His bottles, filters them with his power,
and releases them back on the earth to be agents of growth, new life and restoration. A picture of God redeeming even our very tears- our release of pain- and using these tears to accomplish his own plan of restoration. I like the idea of God using my tears to bring cleansing to people and new life to his creation! However, the analogy seems to break down when I think about floods and the problems of too much rain. Storms can bring horrible destruction! Perhaps this would simply point again to the fact that we are still in the middle of the battle- we have not yet been made perfect, but we have been redeemed. The life and growth rain brings is no less significant or important because of the reality of floods and storms. The floods are simply a reminder that we need to continue to fight in this war- that things are not yet as they should be- but we can be encouraged to know that restoration is happening- NOW! And our own pain, struggles and tears are used by God for his work of restoration- not because he needs them but because God loves including his children in his work. He loves giving us opportunities to give him gifts and sacrifices for him to use!

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, o God, you will not despise" Psalm 51:17

Perhaps I simply had too much time to think as I rode on the back of the moto in the rain last week smiley Either way- the idea encourages my heart and reminds me that God is always good- even when the world is not.