Last Friday morning, after 3 years of not speaking publicly, I was packed and loaded and ready to hit the road to present Soaring With God in La Center, Kentucky.
Friday night was titled “An Intimate Evening with Deborah”. I admit that I am not generally comfortable talking about myself in this situation. The evening was wonderful though, as the Lord gave me words to speak. I felt the Lord’s Presence and sensed His whisper, “This is what I created you to do.”
I awoke at five Saturday morning to the sound of rolling thunder and the flash of constant lightning strikes that could be seen even through the hotel’s black out curtains. “Oh great! Thunderstorms!” I thought.
I was not deterred. I was certain that the rain would end before it ever affected my drive to the venue. Buoyed by God’s faithfulness, I prepared to lead a full day of conference material. I had selected my outfit carefully with the Lord to bring just the right balance of authority and approachability. I selected shoes that I could wear all day, and a dress that would allow me to move and be comfortable for the duration.
I packed my materials in my bag and headed down to the car and came to a full stop at the door that led to my car. The rain was nothing short of torrential and my umbrella was in the car. I had no choice. “It’s a good thing we don’t melt.” I said to the gentleman who held the door for me and I ran through pouring rain and two inch deep puddles.
Once I got on the road, I called my husband “just to commiserate”. I was soaked. Rain spots on my dress and jacket, sandals drenched by the standing water. What a way to start the day. All of my detailed planning down the gutter. I laughed as I though how God has a way of remindng us that it is not about us, but Him. I also remembered a previous time when the rain hindered me but did not stop me: the one time I ran a half-marathon.
When I trained for the Music City Half-Marathon I ran with worship music playing in my ears. Worship music that often asked the Lord to rain with His Presence. I remember chuckling through the actual race because it poured the whole 13.1 miles. I thought, “Well, I asked for this.”
In preparation for the weekend in Kentucky, I had prayed, my team of intercessors had prayed, friends and family had prayed that the Lord meet us in La Center, Kentucky on Friday and Saturday. God’s Presence is often symbolized with clouds (His shikenah glory) and rain. There, in the car, after I whined a little, I told my husband, “Okay, I guess this means He is answering our prayers and is going to meet us today.”
With that thought and memory, I changed my mindset. I was reminded again of all of our worship music that talks about God raining with His Spirit’s Presence. I remembered how we use the term “soaking” when we want to fill up with the Holy Spirit. My grumbles turned to hope and reliance on God’s promise of His Presence as we gathered in a small town in Kentucky.
Within minutes of my mindset shift, the rain stopped. And for a brief moment the sun came out. It was as if the Lord was smiling down on me and saying, “Yes! I’m bigger than the storms and the rain.”
The conference, Soaring With God, was amazing as the Lord united the room under the canopy of His Presence. He empowered visions and dreams as He reinforced who He had created people to be and what He created them to do. He brought life-changing hope, rekindled dreams, and spoke loads of encouragement to all who attended.
The rain stopped well before we loaded the car at the end of the day. As an added treat, I experienced even more of God’s Presence as I drove back to the hotel. During that 20 minute drive I witnessed not one or two, but four distinct rainbows. Two are pictured above.
God’s promise that He shows up whenever two or three are gathered in His name had been manifest in so many ways that day. It was only fitting to see the rainbows as a visual reminder of His promises to His children.
Next time you are caught in the rain, may it be a reminder of God’s Presence sprinkling or soaking your life with His promises. Woship Him in the moment and celebrate His Presence and promises.