Raining on the Inside

I’m raining on the inside.
My heart wells up with tears that start to pour.
I’m raining on the inside.
But then Your cries of love break through,
And I fall in love with you once more.
By Amy Grant & Kathy Troccoli

Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!
Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles …

Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!
I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness …

I am trusting you to save me. Psalm 55: 1-2, 6-7, 23 (NLT)

From the time of Moses, when Miriam danced and sang praises to God, we His children have written songs and sang those songs from our hearts to Father God’s heart. For me, music is the most intimate, real way that I communicate with God. I am grateful for poets and songwriters like King David, Charles Wesley, Amy Grant, Bill Gaither, Chris Tomlin, Jamie Grace and so many others who have expressed for me what is inside – sometimes seeming to be trapped like a big rock in my throat! But then a psalm or a song comes and I pour out my heart and drain my thoughts and pain and Father God’s love fills in all the empty space!

No spouse, no BFF, or any other person can be counted on to be there, say the right thing, and “make it all better” every day, every time. To expect that is to set people up to fail!

But when I turn to Jesus and fall into His arms, I find myself in the place where there is always enough love, enough comfort, truth and strength to get up again and walk on. I will not be walking alone. I will be hearing truthful encouragement from the One who knows the truth and the freedom it brings.

Sadness, depression, confusion, despair – Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, came to walk a human journey. He wept at Lazarus’ tomb. He grieved over the death of His cousin, John. He cried out to His Father for mercy as He looked at the walk from Gethsemane’s Garden to Calvary. Jesus came to save me and to give me a life which is abundant through Him. He did that. He does that.

My life is abundant as I move closer and closer to Jesus. His love (grace), His ability to forgive (mercy), His strength, His wisdom, and His peace are part of me.

The “rain” inside of me dries up with the Light of the Son who is always with me. My sorrows are not dismissed like they are of no account. The psalmist says,

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book. – Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Oh, how tenderly Jesus notes my tears and wipes them away with His love.

In the days ahead, let us walk in the knowledge, the strength and peace we have with Jesus, Savior and LORD.