“When it rains, it pours.”
Yes, it’s a cliché. But it’s a good one. And according to Dictionary.com it means: “When something good or bad occurs, it usually occurs more than once and often within a short period of time.”
So far this summer I’ve experienced the cliché in a bad way. I’ve had a deluge of difficulties.
My month of June began with my twin daughters graduation from high school. Although a wonderful milestone and a time to rejoice, we had THE party. *cue groan* Here in the Midwest, we have the tradition of hosting graduation parties, REALLY big graduation parties. And as the mom, I was in charge of the whole shindig—feeding over 150 guests at my house. While it was a blast, it was also a TON of work and took LOTS of time.
Somehow, during all the planning and preparing, my back decided to give me trouble. More specifically, I irritated my sciatic nerve. *cue another groan* Those who’ve had sciatic nerve issues know how painful it is (and how hardly anything helps reduce the pain!). The majority of my sciatic trouble happened at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. Yes, that meant I operated most days on very choppy, less-than-ideal amounts of sleep.
Finally, as if that weren’t enough, midway through June it really did rain and pour, and pour, and pour . . . right into our basement. Central Michigan was hit with especially hard thunderstorms one night, and we received so much rain in so little time, that flooding was widespread. The city drains couldn’t keep up with all the water. Rivers flooded. Parking lots and streets were submerged. Whole neighborhood drains backed up causing flooding in thousands of homes.
This was the gas station at the grocery store that is a short from our house.
We had about two feet of water in our finished basement where I kept four bookshelves packed with books. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to save the bottom row. And one of the bookshelves fell apart before I could clear the books off. I also lost a really big bin of Christmas books I’d been collecting since my kids were little. Of course, we lost lots of other things too, but it’s always hard to lose books (can I get an Amen from my fellow book lovers?).
Our family room submerged by two feet of water.
Lots of ruined books on the lower shelves, but I saved many others!
Thankfully, the rain has stopped (literally and figuratively). After spending hours carrying out the soggy, dripping mess of ruined carpet and furniture (and stacks of water saturated books!) the basement is drying. We’re in the process of cleaning it out and repairing damage to the walls and floors. My sciatic nerve, while not completely better, is becoming more manageable. I’m sleeping a little better. And slowly we’re beginning to see sunshine again after the rain.
We hauled piles of water logged books outside.
Our neighborhood was full of piles of ruined furniture just like ours.
As I’ve faced the pouring rain this past month, I’m reminded that God created both the rain and the sunshine. Often we like the sunny days best, don’t we? Those times when everything is going well and we’re relatively problem-free. Our American culture has taught us to seek after the sunshiny-days, to chase after happiness, to seek comfort and pleasure at all costs.
But just as our gardens and grass and earth need the rain in order to truly flourish, so do we. We can’t expect to really grow unless we experience a soaking rain from time to time. I find that in those downpours, those difficulties, when I’m exhausted and beaten down and discouraged, I turn to the Great Caretaker more readily and eagerly. When I’m at the end of myself, my need for Him is so much more evident, His presence more real, His power more visible.
Instead of always praying for sunshine and cloudless skies, perhaps sometimes we should ask for rain. And even when it pours (more than we want!), we can embrace it, asking Him to help us truly grow under his watering.
How about YOU? Have you had any rain (difficulties) lately? Please share! I’d love to lift you up in prayer.
Jody Hedlund
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I really appreciated this post. As an Australian I think it fair to say it’s not just American culture that chases sunny skies 🙂 What a great reminder that God is still God, rain, hail or shine. Thanks for sharing so honestly, Jody.
Hi Carolyn,
You are so right. I don’t think it’s just an American mindset to chase after sunny skies. It’s a modern-culture mindset that permeates every part of life. I wonder if we’d be less discouraged and depressed if we accepted that hardships and difficulties will be a part of our lives? Hmmm. . . food for thought!
First of all; Congratulations to your daughters (and you) on their High-school graduation!
So sorry to hear about the flood and the loss of your books, and other treasures. We live a few 100 miles south of you in the SW corner of Michigan. We got rain, but not nearly as much as you did.
Thank you for sharing your hardships and joys with us.
Hi Trisha,
Thank you for the congrats! Yes, central Michigan really got hit hard compared to the rest of the state. The funny thing is, we’re not on one of the Great Lakes! We have a couple of rivers that flow through town (and those overflowed). But the main source of the flooding was the rain! Our library children’s level in the basement got two feet of water too and ruined many books there.
congratulations with your daughters. they are so pretty. oh my I am so sorry about the rain. will pray for healing from this. your right, we need to let our Lord work in our lives in these most difficult of times. we were ok with the rain, but our son (1/2 hour away) had his basement flood.
Hi Lori,
Glad you were okay with the rain! Sorry to hear about your son’s basement flooding. It’s amazing to hear about how many people were affected! So much damage and so much clean up needed. Thanks for your prayers!
Jodi so sorry to hear about your flooded basement I would also miss my book collections and family albums more than anything else.My basement got some water in it a few years ago (nothing like yours did) And I remember vacuuming and cleaning It.I discovered white vinegar is really good to use in a carpet shampooer to get rid of the musty smell.It smells like vinegar for a few days but it got rid of the odor.I am reading With you always right now it is a great book.I hope you find some time to relax this summer.God Bless you.
Hi Diana,
Thanks for the tip regarding the white vinegar. I’ll keep that in mind for the future (although I hope this doesn’t happen again!). Hope you’re enjoying With You Always!
As Christians we are not promised a perfect life, quite the opposite. But there are rainbows after the rain. I love the song Refiners Fire and what it says. What is hard only makes us stronger. My difficult time is having to move my mother in with us. She’s critical and hard to please. Just when my husband and I thought we’d be enjoying retirement after keeping our youngest grandson (he starts school in August) now we have my mom and can’t go anywhere. God is trying to teach me something through all of this, mainly patience. It’s so hard being a “parent” to a parent.
Prayers that everything mellows out for you, Gail. We have been retired for three years and take care of our granddaughter after school and during the summer. She is a real joy, but we have learned we need to have time for ourselves, also. Don’t forget to carve out some time to do some of the things you planned. Hoping you can find someone to help with your mother.
Hi Gail,
I will be praying for you as you move into a new life stage of caring for your mom. Having the roles reversed is unsettling and difficult. Praying that God will still lead you beside quiet waters and into green pastures!
What a series of trials. I ache over your lost books and feel sympathy back pain. My back flares up from time-to-time, too. No fun!
I love your message, though. God sends sunshine and rain. Both serve a purpose, and we should be grateful for whichever we receive. Not an easy task, but one that will help us grow into mature believers, not lacking anything, as James 1:2-4 promises.
Hi Karen,
The hard thing about the sciatic pain is that there is so little that can ease the pain. The first time I experienced the sciatic nerve pain problem, it only lasted about six weeks and then “healed”. But this summer it’s dragged on and on. And I began to wonder if this would be my thorn in the flesh, similar to Paul, something that I would have that pushes me like never before to rely upon God. It’s made me much more empathetic to those who live with constant health and pain issues!
So sorry for your toubles, Jody. You have given really could advice to help when bad times come (which we all experience).
Congratulations to your daughters who have an exciting adventure ahead!
Will be praying for you.
Thank you for your prayers, Betty! Much appreciated! 🙂
So sorry about your sciatica and flooding and mess! So much work – and loss of special things! Congratulations on the graduation of two beautiful daughters! Rays of sunshine through the dark clouds of disaster. 🙂
Hi Angie,
Thank you! I love your perspective–looking for rays of sunshine through the dark clouds. I think when we’re in the midst of the storms it’s so easy to allow ourselves to wallow in the dark!
So sorry about the difficulties you have been experiencing. Praying for you and your family. My hubby and I are in a season of waiting as we want to move to SC from VA to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grand baby due in August. God’s timing is best. We just need more patience. 🙂
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for your prayers! Praying for you too this morning that God would give you a renewed sense of peace as you await the open doors to move. What a blessing that will be to your family to move closer!
I’m so sorry to hear about the difficulties and pain you’ve had! Two weeks ago I had shoulder surgery, and my husband left the next day for a week on a business trip. I thought I’d be able to handle it, after all, I’d managed several surprise dislocations in the past year and a half. Thankfully, my mom understood how big of a deal surgery is, and she arranged to fly in and help me the first four days. I would not have been able to do it without her! She cared for my girls while I slept off the pain, helped me learn how to shower and dress one-handed, and was there when I started having side effects of anxiety and depression when I stopped taking one of the narcotic painkillers. After she left the anxiety got worse, and my friends from church stepped in and blessed me with visits, meals, and taking my girls for play dates. Fortunately the anxiety went away after three days, and my husband was able to come home from his trip a day early. I felt so many answers to prayer during that rough time, and it’s made me appreciate the support I have from friends and family, and also recognize some limits 😉
Hi Heidi,
Oh my goodness! You’ve been through the pouring rain this summer too. Aren’t you so grateful for wonderful mothers who step in and know just what to do? What a blessing that your mother came and helped. My mom has been a huge blessing to me during my trials too. I don’t know what I would have done without her! And friends are such a blessing too. Hope that your shoulder is doing better now.
Hi Jody, I so feel your pain. We had our finished basement flood 4 times. The years 2006, 2013, and twice in 2015 (a week apart). In 2013 I lost many, many books. I actually had to have my mother-in-love remove the books for me. In 2015 our whole basement flooded again, except for a half-circle that surrounded our bookshelves. We lost no books that year, or bookshelves, we were able to get all of them out of the basement in time for the second flood that occurred later that week. God is good all the time. I will keep you in my prayers. And I understand about the graduation too. My oldest graduated last year and it was a lot of work.
Hi Amy,
Oh wow! Four floods! I’m sorry about your loss of books too. I’m actually afraid to put my books back in the basement (even though the last flood in my town was close to 30 years ago and likely won’t happen again soon!). Even so, I’m very cautious as I’m beginning to put things back to keep more valuable items up higher just in case.
In the midst of a downpour right now. You are spot on with your message! Have you heard the song “Hills and Valleys”? We aren’t in the valleys alone and we don’t get to the mountaintops by ourselves! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Hi Nancy,
I haven’t heard of that song. But what an apt illustration that is with valleys and mountaintops. Thank you for sharing that word of encouragement. Praying for you to experience God’s strength and peace in your stormy valley.
I’m sorry that you were a victim of flooding. I hope that you have been able to restore your finished basement . We have had lots of rain in the Cincinnati area where we live. So far we have been fortunate to avoid water damage in our apartment. Each time the warnings come I pray for God to protect the neighborhood. We have had some flood damage in apartments here but the owners have been quick to remove wet carpets and the under padding before mold sets in.
I’m so sorry to hear of this rain in your life right now. Tonight, I needed to hear and read this post. God’s timing is perfect. I can relate to your flooding saga. We happened to be in Italy when our basement flooded. Our poor daughter had to deal with it, along with our great friends and family. No fun at all. Ugh. But, so grateful for their help. Although I haven’t dealt with back pains, I am in the midst of an earache that requires surgery on July 18. Can’t come soon enough! SIGH! And today we learned of our son’s 18th rejection for a law enforcement job. Perseverance is key, just like with writing. We are in a holding pattern. It’s so not fun to wait and so very easy to get into a pity party. You are so right. We expect sunshine all the time. That is not God’s plan. Sometimes He says ‘wait.’ Other times, it’s just plain NO. If it’s all sunshine and great, it doesn’t make for a great story. There needs to be tension to keep reading that story. I’d like to say I totally believe this, but honestly right now, it’s just hard to trust! Thank you again for writing this post. So very timely in our life right now. Blessings to you and a great ending is in sight!
I’m sorry for the damages Jody! These things surely get our attention and as you’ve proven, it is what you do next that makes a difference. I too suffer from sciatic pain when my back goes out and that is something I never wish on anyone else. I am glad the worst of the cleanup job is done but my oh my what a lot of work! Praying for a calmer fall for you all. In my neck of the woods we are enjoying a lot of sunshine after a rainy spring.
One of my favorite quotes: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass – it’s about learning to dance in the rain. I’m so sorry that you lost some of your books. Having sciatic nerve pain in my lower back and legs, I know you were suffering; I don’t know how you did it. Praying the rest of your Summer will have no flooding. Keep the faith and keep dancing in the rain.
I felt so bad for you and others in Michigan that got hit so badly by the rain and flooding. I live elsewhere in MI and luckily we have stayed dry, but we have some large trees right by our house, so whenever it storms I send prayers up to keep us safe.
Congratulations to your daughters on graduating and moving on in life! I am sorry about your nerve pain, and I hope as the summer goes on it flairs up less so you can enjoy the summer a bit more!
WARNING! SOME GRAPHIC HEALTH DESCRIPTIONS
I could certainly use the prayer. In recent months, it has definitely rained and poured. First I was told that I have pre kidney failure.
I have also a massive weight problem. Around 2004 I had a lap band put in to try and help me lose weight. That wasn’t successful, so recently finally I had it removed. Whist it was being removed, the surgeon saw that I had cirrhosis of the liver. Mine was caused by fat though, not alcohol. I was sent for tests, and sound waves didn’t make it through my liver, so that is very bad. They also found that I had a nodule on my liver. When I went back for the results, I was told that the nodule wasn’t benign. Nor was it malignant. I was told that the nodule was non-existent! Thank you Jesus!
My circulatory system isn’t working properly. I have oedema on my legs and feet. Basically bubbles and blisters because the fluids can’t make it back UP my legs again! Sometimes they leak. It worsens, then tries to improve, then worsens again. I would absolutely love to lose that! I was told a couple of weeks ago that if my toes don’t heal quickly, I would end up in hospital having chunks of my toes cut out. I have fissures in my big toes.
Just a few weeks ago, I unexpectedly ended up in hospital as an emergency. After collapsing on the floor several times in 2 days, the people I live with finally decided to go against my wishes and called the paramedics. I knew it wasn’t well. I’d had a thumping headache and a hacking cough. I just thought I’d be able to sleep it off. Instead, I just kept collapsing and I didn’t know why. After tests at the hospital, they told me that I had a urinary tract infection, the same as my last one. I didn’t even know I had one! I normally don’t miss them, but I did this time. I didn’t start having symptoms until days after I was admitted to hospital. THEN I knew I have one. By that stage, thankfully by that stage, I was already getting antibiotics into my system. I was in the hospital for 4 days before being sent home to recover. All this time later, I’m STILL recovering! I’ll be glad to be better again.
One other health condition that I suffer from, but haven’t just recently been diagnosed with, is fibromyalgia. For those of you who don’t know what fibromyalgia is, it’s widespread body pain. About 23 trigger points. It intensifies your senses. Noises become really loud. Lighting is sometimes unbearable, (think strobe lights or stage lighting), smells sometimes see me running out of the room/house because they become unbearable. You get the picture. There are all sorts of triggers. For me, they can be exercise. One that we are told to do is exercise. Unfortunately for 1 in 10 sufferers, exercise makes it worse. It will keep me bed bound for about 4 days afterward. Stress, extreme temperatures, illness and hormonal changes.
Jody, sorry to have taken over your site and everybody for grossing everybody out.
So sorry to hear of all your health issues. I had gastric bypass in 2001 and it’s the best thing I ever did. Have you considered that since the lap band didn’t work?
I’ll say a prayer for you.
Oh! And I’m so sorry to hear about the flooding and the damage that is caused. I wouldn’t like to be in a flood, period. To lose books as well? That would be like losing friends!