Yup, it's raining again.

This has been one of the strangest weather years I can remember. The winter was snowless and not really all that cold. The spring was quick and unseasonably warm. And now the rain.

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, and even more rain. I'd say that it's a lot of rain, but there are places that are getting a lot more and are in serious trouble. We don't have the flooding that southern Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusettes are getting right now, but we're still getting rain.

With all this rain, I'm reminded of a Nooma DVD I have watched a few times. Pastor Rob Bell does the teaching on these and they are incredible. The DVD I'm talking about in particular is titled, "Rain."

In this DVD Pastor Bell tells of a time when he and his son are taking a walk around a lake when it starts to rain. They are half way around the lake and the only way back is to all the way around. It pours on Bell's baby's head and he is terrified.

Bell then segways this story of how it rains in our lives as well and we are terrified. We don't know what to do. Problems seem to overwhelm us and we can't see any farther than the problem. When all the while, God is helping us, talking to us, and holding us... we just have to see it, and listen.

The reason I bring this up is because, while it's not a dire medical emergency, I am now facing a problem. This past Sunday, during the morning worship service, I had to leave and make a trip to the emergency room. Now, if you know me... I Do Not Go To The Hospital. In fact, I'm downright terrified of them. I close right up, shake and tremble at the thought.

But, I had to. I had a gall bladder attack and was in intense pain. I was scared that it might be my appendix, but thankfully just another non-essential organ.

I spent 8 hours in a place I am deathly afraid of. The only other thing that terrifies me more is needles. And I had to have several of them coming at me. (I eventually had to tell them that they would not be giving me any more pain meds unless it was by pill).

Alas, I still need more tests. More needles. More time at the hospital. I know that there are worse things that can happen. That this is a relatively routine thing that people go through every day. No big deal.

But, to me it's huge. I really need to look deep inside myself and cling to the promise of Scripture. I know Jesus is with me and I know that all things are worked out for good. This rain in my life, that couldn't have come at a worse time, is just a little trimming of the vine.

If I do need to have surgery, which is probably likely, I will be facing my biggest fear. That's what rain does I think. It faces us to face fears.

When rain comes, no matter what form it takes, we have to do something we would never do otherwise and for that we need God's strength. I need it now and I am doing some serious praying and fasting. I can't imagine doing this by myself.

It's so easy to just see the problem, or fear. That's what happened Sunday. I just couldn't function or make rational decisions because all I could think about was the hospital. I kept putting it off, until I couldn't even walk. Then I had to.

Fear is crippling. It's irrational. It's not of God. To get past it, and the rain, in our lives, we need to see God in all things. I'm thankful that I have a Savior whose promises never fail.

Rain.

It brings life, but it also brings trouble. How do you face the rain? With joy, exuberance, and confidence? Or pain, anguish, and fear?

For the rest of this storm I, hopefully, will be turning my eyes upon Jesus. Because His face is a lot more pleasant than the fear that grips me.