Shelter From the Rain

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Caught in the rain?

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." I Thessalonians 5:11

  These rainstorms have been a true blessing over the past several days. The countryside has greened up, and everything smells fresh and clean. However, what happens when you're caught in a storm without shelter?

On a rainy afternoon, as we came home from our trip, my family and I spotted a small, black creature in the middle of the road. At first, we thought it was a small dog, but upon approaching it, we realized it was a black baby lamb! He had managed to get out of the neighbor's corral. We, the other neighbors, tried to catch him, lasso or wrangle him into the corral, but to no avail. He was wet and tired and kept crying for his mamma. We were scared to stress him out and hurt him. We finally got him cornered in a safe spot away from the busy rural road.

We knew the owner of the corral didn't live in our neighborhood, so how would we get in touch with him so that he could get his lamb to safety? So, my husband called the other surrounding neighbors to get in touch with the owner. We were told that possibly the neighbors across the street from the corral might have the owners' number. My husband stayed with the lamb in the drizzling rain, making sure it wouldn't run off to the road. So, I went to their house, and they weren't home. I have lived in this area for over twenty years and have never met these neighbors. As I left the neighbors' house, thank God they drove up. They looked at me, puzzled. 'What is this lady doing at our house?' I explained the situation to them. They knew the owner of the corral and would call him. Upon waiting for the owner, they told us that the animals in the corral escape quite frequently; they're constantly wrangling them back in. The owner finally arrived at the corral and took the lamb back into the sheltered corral where it would be dry and safe with his mother. Who knows how long the little guy was caught outside in the rain without shelter and crying for his mamma? But God put us in its path to help it out.

While visiting with neighbors across the street from the corral, we found out they were facing a life storm of their own. He was recently diagnosed with pancreatic and lung cancer and is recovering from surgery, which is why he could not wrangle the lamb in the corral as he had in previous times. I thank God that we got to meet them during this cold, drizzly, rainy afternoon so that we could pray for them and that God may provide the shelter they need during their storm.

So, how do we encourage each other during our storms? I pray that the following daily scripture readings for June, which address "encouragement," will help us pray for one another during the storms of life and find shelter in God's word.

Shortly after posting this tidbit, I received a text from a dear friend asking me to pray for their loved one, as he was like the scared little lamb, scared to get the help he needed. Yes, fear can be very paralyzing. God may be throwing us a lifejacket, but we can be too scared to reach out for the help, just like the frightened little lamb. Therefore, my dear friend, I leave you with the following verse to share with your loved one, and I will be praying for both of you.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

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