Rainy Day Box
I remember when I was a kid I loved playing outside in our neighborhood. I was tight with my brothers and we always shared friends, toys, and adventures wherever we lived. We would ride bikes, play in the park, fly kites, play tag, build forts… until the rain came. I loved the excitement of a thunderstorm, and certainly thought that lightning was cool, but I hated the rain. The rain totally killed my mood and canceled the fun.
However, in those bummed out moments, my mom would save the day. She would reach into the closet and pull out a very special box. A box that we only saw during special times and it just so happens that rainy days became those special moments. It was our “Rainy Day Box!” That box represented hope for me as a child. Hope that my day would be bearable and that my world wasn’t going to come crashing down around me.
Sometimes the storms in life do something similar to us as adults. We feel as if our would is coming down around us like a downpour that causes flooding. It is in those moments we need a rainy day box spiritually. When I encounter moments like that I often turn to my favorite book of the bible – Philippians. Here is the group of verses that help me the most:
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
There are three main points in these verses that help me:
1. I need to focus on the good.
“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” We have to remember that it is our choice what we allow our minds to dwell on. If we only allow our minds do dwell on the crap in our life, not only will we continue feeling lousy but we will be less likely to do anything about it.
2. I need to learn to accept my situation.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” Paul knew what it was like to live without. Sometimes when life is hard we need to come to grips with reality. If we never accept the circumstances around us we can never create a plan to change them, or simply evaluate things soberly to live with the consequences of our choices.
3. I will survive
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Sometimes after accepting my circumstances I realize there is nothing I can do to control the situation I find myself in. In those moments I realize that this is what God has for me at this point of my life and He will give me the strength I need to pull through.
It is in these moments that I reflect on the “Rainy Day Box” and the childhood storms and thank God for my “Rainy Day” bible verses like Philippians 4.
What is your rainy day passage that brings you hope?
