God's Extravagance

A heavy, beating rain outside my window woke me up early this morning.

At first I worried about the downpour and the flooding it might cause. So in a half-sleep, I began to pray.

The gushing rain continued for a while, but I relaxed as I thought of God’s loving providence in everything around us, including the rain. And the sound of the rain became comforting, a reminder of His own outpouring of gifts for us.

The rain – in all its drenching excess – symbolized God’s extravagance toward us. We are often reminded that God is rich in kindness and mercy; that He came to give us life and that we might have it more abundantly; that if  we ask, He will give; and that as we give, we are repaid: “a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.”

We learn that God can never be outdone in charity, that His storehouses of grace and mercy are limitless.

And if we His children ask for His gifts – we can expect a downpour.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.