I smiled to myself when I checked the weather this morning.

Guess I wouldn’t have to do my usual walk after seeing Audrey off on the school bus.I’d just have to come back inside and snuggle up under the covers with my coffee. DARN!

And then, of course, I stepped outside and it was just a light drizzle. As the bus pulled away, I gave thanks for long underwear, pulled my hood up, and put one foot in front of the other, winding my way around the damp, chilly neighborhood. My usual partner-in-crime wasn’t available to talk long today, so I was left with my own thoughts for most of my walk.

And I thought about…wait for it…walking in the rain. Move over, C.S. Lewis!

When it’s dismal and dreary out, it’s natural to want to avoid the experience all together and just stay tucked inside, cozy and warm. But cozy and warm won’t get me to where I need to be. I walk because my health is important to me, and also because I have a drawer full of jeans I would like to fit into again. I walk because it’s good for my emotional health, and I know my body needs as much Vitamin D as it can get as we go into winter.

It’s easier to just stay inside when the weather conditions aren’t favorable. But if we have reason enough, we’ll keep going anyway.

The same is true in life and especially for the Christian walk, I think.

Our goal may be to live our lives to please the Lord, but, especially in America, most of our prayers trend towards, “Please God, don’t let us be uncomfortable!”

Give up that preference? Spend time doing what on my day off? Be kind even when they are being a macho jerk-face? Did God really say…?

We’d rather just stay inside, thanks!

But if we truly want to make a difference for the kingdom of God, we’re going to have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Do you know who doesn’t like Christians living like Christians? Do you know who hates Christian marriage, families, ministry, and friendship? Satan. And he’s going to throw as much rain at us as possible to make us discouraged.

That’s when it’s up to us to put on our rain gear (I think someone may have called it armor) and keep walking anyway. Beautiful days are great but we can’t stop going just because we might get wet.

Now, does that mean we run outside straight towards a tornado? Nope! There is wisdom in knowing when it is more prudent to watch and pray. But we are the very ones God has called to get out there as soon as it’s safe to help others affected by life’s storms.

I know, I know. The analogies won’t hold up perfectly. But we, those who belong to God, have everything we need to keep going, even when it’s tough, because we have the very Spirit of God living in us.

The benefit far outweighs the risk.

So keep going.

Angela

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” ~2 Peter 1:3