Drenched But Dry

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Eric Wogen.

I recently came across a devotional message I had written for our congregation’s newsletter shortly after coming to Florida over two decades ago now. I smiled as I read and re-read what I had written, concluded the words remained timely, and decided to share them with you. May you find what follows to be timely, too. 

I continue to be intrigued by the unpredictable and rapid way the weather changes during the summer months in this slice of creation. A recent experience illustrates my observation.

The incident to which I refer took place a few weeks ago. I returned to the office in the early afternoon after making a visit to a member of the congregation. The sun was blazing. A handful of billowy clouds dotted the heavens. I decided to leave my driver’s side car window down. Later that same afternoon, while engaged in an appointment, I noticed a few dark clouds making their appearance on the horizon but quickly concluded they would go elsewhere- a foolish conclusion. A torrential downpour appeared out of nowhere and was the producer of two wet seats that day, one in the car and the other…use your imagination.

Gratefully, both seats eventually dried out. 

From my absorbing experience, I gleaned these insights. The unexpected will come to all of us. Storms appear whether we are ready for them or not and sometimes we will get drenched. We may ask “why”, that eternal question that yields few satisfying answers. We may lament “ if only” but discover that changes nothing. Our inevitable questions rarely connect with helpful answers. We may even wonder if God has moved away from us or if he no longer cares.

The good news is we will dry out. The good news is we can face whatever comes trusting God’s love in Christ will surround and sustain us both during and after life’s storms. What a difference that makes. Soaked though we may be on occasion, the Son’s love has a renewing way of drying us out. And even though more unexpected storms may come our way, we can affirm our Creator’s reassuring word and dependable promise: 

 

               “ Lo, I am with you always…………”

 

Let us pray: Lord God, storms will come and storms will go, but your loving care is a constant upon which we can truly depend. Drenched or dry, may we know your sustaining love always and do our best to share it with each other. In our Lord’s name, we pray. Amen.