There's something unreal about watching rain pour down to the earth. Lightning slashes across the sky so quickly, that if you blink you could miss it and all of it's powerful beauty. Thunder crashes, and it feels so close the walls tremble. The water falls down in sheets, and blankets the ground. There is no space left unwatered. No corner left dry. I look out the window and I see the way the raindrops dance on the surface of the pool. The water jumps and moves as though it's playing; completely joyful in the heat of the storm. If raindrops had voices I imagine they would sound like the chorus of angels singing to the Lord in heaven, "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come". In complete awe of their maker and fully content to sing and dance and play before Him and marvel at His glorious presence. (Revelation 4:8 NIV)
Oh, how I wish we could be like those raindrops. Fully satisfied in our purpose and unwaveringly ready to carry out the Lord's plan for us.
My Mema, my Mom's mom, has been visiting from South Carolina this week. Every time I am alone with her she never fails to remind me that my identity is not found in the labels this world is so desperate to categorize me by. These labels of daughter, sister, student, woman, waitress, etc are the world's way of keeping me in a box. They are the world's way of keeping me understandable, so that I am explainable.
My identity, though, is found hidden in Christ. Wrapped up in heaven. Found in the depths of the heart of the Most High God. The Holy Spirit dwells within my soul. He caresses my heart with whispers of joy and encouragement and comfort. He tells me that "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [you] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38,39 NIV)
How can I be content to accept a label that is anything other than who I will be for all eternity? It is not my job to blend in, keep quiet and make no waves. It is not my job to be explainable. My place is with Christ and with God in Heaven. My purpose is to glorify my creator with my life, and that means loving those He places in my path with a heart and mind like Christ's. I fail at this so often. My own insecurities or desires get in the way of the Spirit flowing out through me. He is moving, though. He is so present. He's whispering, come to me. Bring me your troubles. Lay down your burdens at my feet. Trust me. Take my hand. Let me lead you. Stop trying to fix what you've broken and see that I've already done it. Stop fighting a battle I've already won. It is finished.
The raindrops glitter and sparkle as they collide with the surface of the pool. They seem to rejoice in the fact that they are no longer plummeting to earth, but have landed in their place.
Oh that we would be like the raindrops: declaring God's sovereignty just by being obedient to our purpose. Rejoicing in His plan. Dancing before Him with pure joy that can only be attributed to the mind-boggling, awe-inspiring and heart-wrenching reality of our place in the apple of His eye.
Come. Come dance with me.
