Life’s not about waiting for the storms to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.  Mac Anderson

I think one of the biggest frustrations I see people dealing with,  is the expectation  that some day there won’t be any storms.  If they live right, pray the right prayers, follow the bible etc, they won’t have any trials or problems.  The bible doesn’t promise, a storm-free life, it promises that the storms you encounter will work for your good.  Challenges will come, most of which we are powerless to control.  What we can control  however is how we react to the storms.    The Bible actually has a lot to say about  trials, problems, challenges….storms.  God uses words like “rejoice”, “peace”, “joy” when talking about trouble.  Dancing in the rain is not a natural reaction, in fact it sounds kind of SUPER-natural to me.  When I encounter a trail, I have to  check my natural reaction at the door and choose a God-directed reaction instead.  It’s tough, it stretches me, because I’m much more comfortable freaking out or pulling the covers over my head than, “dancing in the rain”.   Dancing instead of freaking out  is a choice.

God’s directions for dancing in the rain—Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice…..DO NOT LET your hearts be troubled…..be anxious for nothing but in everything through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,  make your requests known to God and the peace that passes understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
The Lord said, in this world you will have trouble…..but I have overcome the world.

God says DO NOT LET your heart but troubled, be anxious for NOTHING. I believe that challenges in life,  “trouble” as the bible says,  are given so that we might exercise our faith…..to give our faith a work out, so to speak.  God  gives a dance lesson in the book of Philipians …..”whatever is good, lovely, true , think upon these things”.  Train your brain to think about, ponder, meditate on the good, lovely things. Recite the good things over and over, out loud, think on purpose about what’s lovely.  Here’s what it might sound like : “I  enjoy great health, my kids are healthy, my husband and I love  each other  deeply, I’ve never gone hungry….ever”.    Think and  think and think about the blessings.  Soon the troubles will look a lot smaller and the blessings a lot bigger.  Before long,  you’ll be dancing in the rain…..cutting a rug….light on your feet.

Here’s a tip:  Don’t wait til you feel like dancing….it’ll never happen.  You have to just do it.  Think-think-think about what’s good -right-lovely then the feelings will follow.