He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. Psalm 147:8

Today, the sky finally opened up. Real rain at last. The flash and crackle of lightning and the boom of thunder preceded its arrival. It was a welcome sight after all the dry months.

Tempted as I was, I didn’t actually dance amid the raindrops, but I was close as I lingered on the patio. I have missed the rain. With it comes a fresh yet earthy smell. I delight in the gentle drumming of drops on the pavement, and the way it washes everything clean, drawing out the hidden richness of tree bark.

Today’s rain was much too brief. But even a brief rain brings with it renewal. It doesn’t require much to coax a bit of green onto the hillsides and to perk up plants that by this time of the year are flagging. Rain revives my spirit.

Hope is like that.

Up until the rain came, the day was heavy. Setting aside the flood of discouraging reports on the state of our nation, displays of performative religion and piety, the debate over who owns free speech, my day’s misery was personal. Calls and emails overflowed with hurt. People were struggling with illness, theirs or that of a family member; with family addiction; or with mental health challenges. They were crushed by daily demands at a time when resources are shrinking or disappearing altogether. They spoke of working too many hours and still facing the possibility of losing their job.

Someone was struggling under the weight of self-condemnation, sometimes brought on by unjust criticism. A woman mourned the loss of her father. Trust and hope seemed lost in the murk of struggle and fear.

The world, too, seems a bit lost. We grasp for something—anything—that might raise our spirits and rekindle our dreams. In that desperation, we have not always chosen well. We have placed trust in the untrustworthy. We look back with nostalgia and not forward to what is possible. Hope is easily lost when it isn’t moored to something solid.

But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what GOD will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me.

Micah 7:7

Ultimately, it is God’s job to restore, refresh, or renew. Nonetheless, we have trouble trusting Him to do so. It might help if we joined him in that task, helping to restore hope in those around us.

We might have more rain here this week. Our window-washer asked if I still wanted them to come on Monday. Why not?  Rain on clean windows is not as big a deal as rain on the dusty surfaces. We could use more rain.

With it comes a new reminder that renewal is possible.