Do you think blessings come only wrapped in pretty paper? Do they come down from heaven fully grown and emitting beautiful smells and light? Or do they sometimes come to us as rain?
The word “Raindrops” sound beautiful, soft and lovely. But when we use the word “Rain” it has a different sound to us. Like something a little harsh, like a trial. Let’s explore that a little.
Do you remember reading the book of Job? Job was a good guy. He did what God wanted him to do. He lived a pretty blameless life.
One day Satan sought to tempt Job into cursing God. God knew Job’s heart and knew Job would always honor him, so God allowed Satan to have certain liberties in dealing with Job.
It was devastating - Job lost everything. His children and servants were killed and he lost all of his riches. Soon he was afflicted with sores over his whole body.
Of course it would have been good if Job’s wife had been sympathetic, but she didn’t seem to be. She even asked him why he was still following God. She said - Curse Him and die – NICE WIFE. Job called her a foolish woman and said, “Hey, don’t you think we should accept the trouble along with the good that God has given us?” (Or something to that affect.)
When Job's friends confronted him, Job said, “even if God kills me, I’ll still trust Him.” How’s that for faith? It’s interesting that he didn’t say, “I know God will fix everything.”
Job laid out his complaints to God. But he also asked God to show him where he had fallen short. He spoke of God’s goodness, and yet complained about the state he was in. He feels God isn’t listening to him and boasts about how good he’s been. He just doesn’t understand – and that’s the crux of the matter.
God’s answer sets Job back a bit. In Job 38, it says:, Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Later God said, "Have you ever given orders to the morning or shown the dawn its place . . . "Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?
Finally God asks Job to answer Him.
Then Job answered the LORD. He said, ”I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
Later Job says, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things
I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job had been complaining about something he didn’t even understand. He was putting himself on the same level as God. We often do that. But how can we always understand the mind, and the power of God? Job
didn’t know that he was an example to Satan of the type of trust God’s expects people to have in Him. He
didn’t know that God was so sure of Job’s love that He could allow Job to go through these troubles. He
didn’t know that the blessing of learning God’s desire for purity was going to be his. He
didn’t know that although he thought he was good – he fell far short of the purity of God. He
didn’t know that God was showing even Job how to trust Him.
In the end Job began to see another side of this relationship, because he repented and God forgave and blessed him abundantly!
God sends the rain to wash clean our hearts. Jobs blessings came through raindrops. This time the rain was a real gully washer, tearing through Job’s life. It was accompanied by wind – a real storm. The rain in Job’s life was a blessing. It helped him grow, and because of it, Job learned more and more to trust God and to know that no matter where he found himself, in the sunshine or the rain, God is God even though we don’t always understand.
Sometimes our blessings come through raindrops.
You might want to copy this URL and listen to Laura Story sing Blessings. It’s beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0&noredirect=1
Have you ever felt that God was right there with you when you were walking through the hard times? Did you feel His warmth and care? Sometimes we only think of Him when we "need" Him, when our hearts are troubled by the cares of our lives. But sometimes I feel His presence even more in the good times. 
