We have officially entered the spring of the year in the northern hemisphere, and I am reminded of a saying often mentioned in the spring of the year. The expression is, "April Showers bring May flowers." The phrase's meaning is that the early spring rain is necessary and good. The early rains help provide for the beauty of spring. The rain showers of April are an essential ingredient for the beautiful flowers of May. Though the saying doesn't mention it, the rains of the spring and even the cold, gloomy rains of the winter are essential for more than the flowers of May. They are necessary for the crops of the summer as well. They are also important for the water tables to be replenished enough for the potential long dry weeks or months of the summer and early autumn. We need those rains to have an adequate water supply for our needs during the dry times of the year. Those April (and winter) showers are important!
There is a spiritual application for this springtime saying. It has nothing to do with rain or flowers, but it speaks of a similar principle. According to the Bible, God will use spiritual showers to produce in us spiritual flowers. Another way to say that is that God will use the difficulties of our lives to develop our things of great value. The "rainy days" of our lives are difficult at the moment, but they will have great value if we trust God and walk through those times in obedience to Him. Consider these passages of scripture that speak of the beauty that is produced through the times of spiritual storms.
I Peter 5: 10. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Romans 5: 3-5. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
II Corinthians 4: 16-17. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.
James 1: 2-4. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.