After seven years of drought where I live, we had a very rainy spring. It’s made me think a lot about rain.

For the past few years, we’ve had very dry weather interspersed with heavy rainstorms. The dry weather turned the clay-like soil into rocks so that when the rains came with a vengeance, there were floods. We would vacillate between hot dry weather and too much rain coming at one time that would do little to eradicate the drought. The imbalance in nature led to wildfires, contaminated water, even deaths when people drove into low-lying areas and got caught in flash floods.

Now after some years, nature has restored its balance with regular rains this entire spring. We’ve had a little too much rain, but instead of just running off, it has soaked deeply into the soil, replenishing it. Since it has come as regular rainfall instead of one sweeping storm, the earth has been able to absorb it, and it has made a difference.

This led me to reflect on the times of spiritual dearth in my life. In times of imbalance, I didn’t take enough regular time with God, and the result was spiritual dryness. Then I spent entire days hiding away in prayer and immersing myself in His Word, and I came away from those times somewhat strengthened—but it didn’t really do the same thing as daily times of refreshing.

These daily times of watering our soul are the goal for a flourishing spiritual life. When we have a balance in our days and regularly take time for prayer and reading the Bible and daily devotionals, our ability to deeply absorb the Word and allow it to change us is enhanced. We are better prepared to stand in times of trial, and we develop deep roots of faith that help us to trust that God will see us through whatever storms come our way.

I’ve been thankful for the rainy weather this spring. I’ve enjoyed the glorious green grass and blooming flowers. I’ve seen the benefits of a rising aquifer. I’ve especially appreciated the lesson of a restored balance in nature and in my own life.

If you haven’t yet received Jesus as your Savior, you can pray the following simple prayer and ask Him to come into your heart and give you His love, liberty, truth, peace, and happiness here, now, and forever:

Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You died for me. Please forgive me for my sins, come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and grant me Your gift of eternal life. Amen.