I Don't Regret The Rain

“And I don’t regret the rain,
And the nights I felt the pain,
And the tears I had to cry some
of those times along the way.
Every road I had to take,
Every time my heart would break -
It was just something that I had to get through
To get me to you…”
As sung by Lila McCann,“To Get Me To You” [Hope Floats Soundtrack



Psalm 18:4-6, 16-19
“4 The ropes of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me. 5 The grave F18 wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. 6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”
“16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He delivered me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 18 They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest, but the LORD upheld me. 19 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.”

There have been so many different roads through my life that have caused such great pain and sorrow. It’s so hard to pick just one. Each one has taught me a life lesson and has made me who I am today.

Growing up with an emotionally, physically, and verbally abusive father has made me more sensitive to the plight of children and other's emotional pain.

Having a miscarriage at age 23 and a hysterectomy before my 26th birthday has made me aware of the emotional and physical pain of women.

Going through the turmoil of a troubled teenage daughter taught me patience (too late I must admit), dependence upon God and prayer, and humility that even in so called best of Christian homes children can rebel; but later become blessed with the promise of God in Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Through this pain I am able to give hope to others to hold onto this promise because they will return once again to the Lord as my daughter has done. (NKJV)

Having to go through the loss of loved ones so near and dear to my heart- especially a parent and parent-in-law has helped me to minister to others as they go through similar pain as well.

But the pain I continue to go through regarding my health started 23 years ago. Seeing one’s body and mind deteriorate can be most painful and humbling. When one has a chronic illness you go through some mountains and valleys along life’s pathway. Sometimes you can be in the shadow of the valley of death for a long time. I have felt the pain of rejection and isolation from friends due to being homebound. I have felt the pain and loneliness of depression. I have felt the pain of humiliation due to having to give up pride so family can care for my most personal needs due to chronic illness. I have cried in my husband’s arms many times because I just wanted to give up and go home to be with the Lord because the pain of my illness was too great.

These afore mentioned trials are just some of the paths I have had to travel. Through each trial, temptation, sorrow and pain, God heard the prayers and rescued me from the pits of despair. The Christian life does not promise a life without pain or sorrow, but it does promise that there will always be Someone who will be with you through it all - Our precious Lord and Savior, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

Each road I have travelled I have left more of me behind and gained more of Christ! “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21 (NKJV)