Rainbows After the Storm

Here is an excerpt I wrote as we were moving here.  The Father has continued to provide and it has become easier but I wanted to share with you the thoughts I had amidst the heaviest part of my most recent storm.

“I was reading Jaden’s book about the story of Noah and explained how the rainbow is a reminder of God’s promise that He would not flood the whole world again.  I was thinking about how its interesting that the Lord would choose to give us this sign AFTER the rain has stopped.  By then we know that He won’t flood the earth because it has already stopped raining.  Why wouldn’t He put the rainbow in front of a storm?

If we could be reminded of this promise before, then we wouldn’t have to worry when the storm hit because we would be assured that He remembers His promise.  If I could just be given some specific assurances before it gets bad, surely it would be easier to have hope through the storm.  But usually, the Father doesn’t give us the details beforehand.

So I wonder if the rainbow is yet another display of how He is faithful AND a display on how we must live life trusting His faithfulness.  The rainbow is a promise as well as a visual reminder of who we know Him to be.  The next rainbow after the storm will display  a faithfulness and knowledge of Him that is greater and brighter than the storm/rainbow before.  But we won’t come to that knowledge, that new rainbow, without first seeing how He takes us lovingly through this storm.

Bringing Jaden here has been my current storm.  It has been tons rockier as we have had no contact with any other Americans.  There has been no one to pat me on the hand and say “its ok, you’re not crazy, it will be worth the sacrifice”.  There is no one to help us get situated and find food that Jaden can eat.  No one to say “we’ve been there, it gets better”.  Thankfully, Josh and I have been here before, but even that time we had a lot of help from Chinese friends.  This time we are in a different city completely alone and on our own – a situation that we took great measures NOT to be in.

Yet the Lord has been faithful to not give us too much we can’t handle.  Having two Chinese friends help us find an apartment was a TREMENDOUS help.  We were sad to see them go, but are so thankful we were able to find a place in less than three days.  I sit here in our own place with just enough stuff to get by.  I have hot water, a functioning stove, fridge and toilet.  I have a spoon, fork, chopsticks and two pans.  I made my first meal for Jaden (a noodly egg drop soup) which he didn’t eat but I have hopes for it later.  So while its still “raining”, I can confidently say that I haven’t been thrown off the boat.

At this point, we will continue to slowly get the things we can find to live a bit more comfortably.  We are still asking the Father to give us a tm that we can encourage and be encouraged by.  Until then we are also asking the Father to bring us someone that could help us with logistics and different questions we have.”

>>I would love to hear about your “storms” and perhaps your rainbows of promise that you are encountering presently.  May the Father encourage you with your past rainbows as you wait for the next one!