The Purpose of Rain

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV)

Imagine that I approached you and said, “I will always accomplish my purpose in my relationship with you.” What would your immediate response be? Well, after being weirded out and concerned that another person would make such an intense and bizarre statement, you would want to know precisely what that purpose would be.

However, when God makes the same statement, our response is quite the opposite. Such a declaration from a loving and sovereign God is not bizarre and concerning for his children but rather comforting and exciting.

Still, it’s natural to wonder what that purpose is. So when God declares in Isaiah 55:11, “My word will always accomplish its purpose,” your question should immediately be, “What is the purpose of God’s word?”

In a word: holiness.

A perfectly holy God gifts us his holy word so we would be rescued from the sin we could not escape on our own and be progressively transformed into his likeness.

“Be holy as I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44) is God’s call, and his word is his principal tool in creating in us what he has called us to be. A holy God gifts us with his word so that through it, we would become like him: holy. Progressive growth in godliness (holiness) is God’s goal for biblical and theological study, no matter who is doing it or where it is being done.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
The thorn bush becomes a
cypress tree;
the briar becomes a
myrtle.
Your rain
doesn’t make things bigger and better,
but entirely different than they
once were,
giving constant testimony
to the presence and power of your
mercy.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Fools, denying your
existence,
worshipping their own
wisdom,
become those who surrender their
lives,
who bow their
knees,
in humble, heartfelt worship
of you.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Fiercely rebellious hearts,
hardened against your commands,
crashing through your boundaries,
pursuing what is forbidden,
become compliant,
willingly surrendering to your
call.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Fear-riddled
anxious
timid people,
haunted by doubt,
paralyzed by hopelessness,
live anew,
with souls at rest,
courage of hope,
confidence of heart.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Angry
divisive
controlling
war-making people,
by your power,
arise to become
giving
loving
serving
peacemakers.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Suffering souls,
once filled with anger
against you,
curse you no more,
doubt you no longer,
but run to you for the
comfort
that only you can give.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Selfish people,
laboring for their own pleasure,
hoarding their resources,
storing away their treasures,
now have tender, sympathetic
hearts,
generous in spirit,
giving willingly
liberally
joyfully
acknowledging what they have belongs
to you.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
Love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control
grow out of the rich and moist
soil of hearts,
once hard and barren,
but now a gorgeous garden,
lush with the fruit of your
mercy.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
I, too, have been,
am being,
will be
changed by the power of that
grace.
My blind eyes have been made to
see.
My cold heart has been made
warm.
My stubborn spirit has been given power to
obey.
My boastful heart now bows in
worship.
My selfish energy is now given in
service.
My fear has become
confident hope.
The deepest love of my heart
has been captured by love of
you.

Under the rain of your
amazing grace
miraculous transformation
takes place.
I am so very, very
thankful
that because of your
wisdom
sovereignty
faithfulness
perseverance
and steadfast love,
it is still
raining.

“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
(Isaiah 55:12-13, ESV)

God bless,

Paul David Tripp

Reflection Questions

1. What are some things that you set out to accomplish last week? Which did you consider minor accomplishments, and which did you consider more important?

2. How many of the tasks that you set out to accomplish were actually completed in the precise way that you had initially planned? How many did you have to give up on?

3. Consider your answer to Question 2. Now, based on Isaiah 55:11 and all of Scripture, how would the Lord answer that question? (That answer is easy! The real question is: Does God’s perfect sovereignty bring you comfort and peace in your everyday life?)

4. Consider how, under the rain of the Word of God and by the power of his Holy Spirit, miraculous transformation has taken place in your life. How have you changed and grown? How regularly do you remember and celebrate this?

5. Consider, based on the evidence from your desires, thoughts, words, and actions last week, where change is still needed. Where do you need to confess and repent and ask the Lord to change you? Be specific.