Embracing the Rainy Season by Alicia Dahlman

This season of life has been a season of stepping into unknowns. New city, new job, new friends, new church, and a new family to live with. Choosing to come to Nashville was a complete head-first dive into an unknown season for me. All I knew was that God had called me to be there. I had nothing familiar to cling to. I often run from these sort of situations, yet, I’ve already been able to see how much of a growing experience such seasons can be. When we fully dive into a season of unknowns, all we have left to trust is the Holy Spirit and honestly, praise God for the seasons when all we have left to cling to is Him.

As I prepared to come to Nashville, I kept hearing the Lord speaking to me that this season was going to be one of growth. On our opening retreat the Lord gave me a sweet reminder of what I had heard. On the first morning I woke up early to watch the sunrise, but came out onto the porch to pouring rain. I decided to make the most of it and listen to the rain as I sat on the porch and sipped my coffee. The Lord spoke a word to me as I sat and listened to the rain hitting the ground. He said “The rain comes and makes dead things new. It goes into the cracks of dry and depleted places and brings life. It fuels strength and growth for the season to come. This season is a season of rain for you, of growth and newness, but, growth can’t come unless a plant soaks up the rain given. Soak up the rain and press into a season of being poured into.”

I think we can often see seasons of growth as these exciting times when in all reality they’re hard too. True growth means allowing the cracks to be exposed so they can be filled; soaking up the truth and letting it sink in so growth can happen. I’m learning that it's okay to slow down and listen. To be Mary and sit at the feet of Jesus and choose what is better. To soak up the rain and press into the season of being poured into.

1 Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3