Growing HopeSample

It was a summer wedding. My niece chose a beautiful farm with rolling hills and giant trees. The fragrance of magnolia filled the air. White wooden chairs lined the aisle beneath a giant oak, with a few clouds scattered across the blue sky.

As the music began and the minister called us to rise, the bride appeared through a sheer curtain—a fairytale vision in white.

And then—a raindrop.

At first, just a sprinkle. She made it to the canopy of trees without a care. Then the skies opened. Giant drops soaked hairdos, spray tans, and suits.

I looked over at my mother—nearly 80 years old—smiling peacefully as the rain washed her mascara away. She caught my eye and said, “Rain is always a blessing. It’s a sign they’re going to have a good marriage.”

And she was right. They have.

Rain, though it feels disruptive, is essential for growth. Without rain, the garden withers. Without the rainy seasons of life, our souls would be dry, numbed by endless sunshine.

Rain teaches patience, endurance, and empathy—making us sons and daughters of the Father who sends both sun and rain.

Matthew 5:45 (NIV): “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Reflec

• Can you recall a time when a rainy season led to an unexpected blessing?
• Do you have a memory of hope yielding an unexpected reward?