“Then Comes the Rain” by Lin Leeds

Sarah and I have had the goal of repainting the map of the United States on the playground at school. So here we are two weeks from school and we decided we had best get at it. We started with rollers and painted all the States different “primary” colors. They are bright and bold colors that say, “Look at me”.

We had gotten most of it done but had run out of blue so we could not finish that part of the job. The next day we went to True Value to see Tom and get some more paint. When we got to the school it was very plain to see that some one had driven over the map with very muddy tires. There was a big ugly tire mark right down the middle of the map. I was a bit discouraged and wondered why anyone would do that. It seemed purposeful and malicious.

That day Sarah and I finished up the painting of the States. It was beautiful when the colors were all on. The map could be seen from the street, but funny, the ugly marks could not be seen from the street. Only on closer inspection could the tire marks be seen.

The bulk of the work was still ahead. The white outlining had to be done around all the states. I painted a few days by myself and then yesterday Dan said he would paint with me. Great! Double the work done. Two are better than one. As we were sitting on the pavement painting white around the States Dan made an off handed comment that with the rain all the ugly tire marks had been washed away.

I had five hours to think on that remark. We are so very beautiful to God. This life we live leaves us all with ugly marks. Some marks are self-inflicted just like when I drip white paint on the blue. Some are maliciously put there. They are ugly and they hurt every time we see them. Then the rains come. We can cover ugly marks with a coat of paint. But God’s rain doesn’t cover our ugly marks. He washes them away. If we allow God to work in our lives, God washes the ugly marks way. God makes all things new.

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

As I recall that week we had several rain showers. Some short gentle rains and some strong heavy rains. It did not happen all at once, but it did happen. We so often want all the problems to go away right now. That very seldom happens. God works through people, situations, time, and a host of other happenings. In my own life, God has used all of those to bring about, in my mind, a miraculous change. I know when God sees me, He does not see an ugly, marred person. He sees a beautiful work of art. And though I still struggle with this life and there is still residue that needs to be washed away, God will make all things new.