Rain Without Clouds? Never!

Rain Without Clouds? Never!, May 21
Author: Charles H. Spurgeon From the book: Faith's Checkbook

"If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth" - Ecclesiastes 11:3

Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; He will shine out again before long. Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they are to yield plentiful showers. How can we have rain without clouds?

Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the black chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be the gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but He will not drown us with wrath; nay, He will refresh us with mercy. Our LORD's love letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

O LORD, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds Thee and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.

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All I can say is AMEN!!!! This got me SO excited! Lord, let it rain because I know the rain is nourishment and then the sun will bring forth growth! Thank you, Lord. I love the clouds now even more then I did before! I remember the crazy rain clouds in Hong Kong and how excited I was when they came, but even then sometimes I was sad because it reminded me of the darkness that surrounds it - but knowing this, knowing that I've been called to Hong Kong in the future - gets me excited because the clouds are the dust of the Lord's feet and I know that He is working on Hong Kong and will use me in the clouds, the rain and the sun! Agape.