God Even Uses Rude People for Good

by Amber O’Brien

Look at this sweet picture! I bought it for two dollars, as I gave one dollar to a 6 year old budding artist and one to her 3 year old sister who were selling their creations on the front steps of their beach home. “Oh I love rainbows!” I told them when I spotted this one.

“Rain and sun are both needed for a rainbow” I exclaimed as I excitedly confirmed to the young artist how scientifically accurate her masterpiece that includes piercing sharp raindrops falling while the smiling sun shines above the rainbow.

Also, most encouraging to me was how God orchestrated the timing and positioning so that I would walk my bicycle past their porch. (rather than ride by on the street)

Just a few moments before, as I was about to go back onto a bike path, a couple walked right in front of me without noticing or caring. I must admit that inside my head some complaining occurred...wow….they are not paying attention and and blocking my way….How Rude!”

I decided to take a detour and to walk the bike on a sidewalk for a bit until the next intersection and that is when I noticed two young girls selling their wares. “Do you have any money?” the older girl bluntly asked causing her mom and I to laugh. I assured her that I did, as I had a few dollar bills ready in my pocket after visiting a local bakery. I oohhhed and ahhhed over the pictures and did my best to encourage the sisters and their proud momma.

Voila, a God-incidence in the making because I was nudged onto a different path.

If not for those two people walking in front of me and pushing me to walk my bike further, I would have missed this God-ordained interaction. When they thanked me for the payment, I reminded them of who the money was really from, stating “my money is God’s money, so this is from God”.

As I put the drawing in my basket, I rode off saying, “God loves you all so much”.

So what is the rain in your life my friend? Most likely yours is a bigger storm than rude people. There are storms happening all over. I have people in my life who are grieving the sudden death of a loved one and are walking around with wounded souls and torn hearts. I know of recent medical diagnoses that seem hopeless from the worlds perspective. Perhaps you have loved ones who are not speaking and the division is affecting the entire family. I so wish I could make everything all better for you, my sister. Just like you, I wish that I could heal all grieving hearts, bodies and relationships.

But while I can’t take away the rain and for some reason God hasn’t, ( yet…for we know that All wounds will be healed in Heaven) I did want to remind you of an important Truth:

God works All things out for good. All things. Not just some things or some of the time. All. things. All. of. the. time.

For we know that in All things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Our God is like a masterful conductor who is weaving all the instrument notes together to create a beautiful symphony. Like using rude people to get us where we need to be. Sometimes He uses wounded hearts and broken bodies to humble us and lead us closer to Him. I look back over the rainy times in my life, and those were when I clung to Jesus harder and His word spoke to me most vividly. Looking back, these gloomy, stormy times helped me to be more sensitive to others, deepened my relationship with Jesus and drew me closer to some God-appointed people on my un-planned rainy path.

I have found that journaling is such a great way to process and release the many emotions and questions that occur when we are pushed off our paths. So I encourage you to find a notebook and let the cleansing tears fall as you write down your losses and your future fears. Let your anger out as you write out your hurt and disappointment. (stuffing emotions down inside can cause anger, resentment and depression) So let. it. all. out. my friend.

After I let out all my thoughts and emotions through journaling, then I wait and listen and look in the Bible for answers. I also always end my time filling up with refreshing truth and thanksgiving. I write out 3 good things (gratitudes) that God has done or given me and three characteristics of God. Such as: God is good, God is Love, and God is in control.

God is still on His throne my friend. He is still working All things out for good for you and your family and most of all His Kingdom. He is with you in the storm, shining through your tears.

“I wrote a poem about rainbows”, I told the mom and girls. “When you see a rainbow it is a kiss from God reminding you that He is with you”

He is with you my friend and He promises that He is going to use All things in your life for good. (He’s got the long game ) God promises to turn this detour into good. Trust in the Rainbow maker.

In the Midst of Storms, Rainbows are Born

I, the LORD your God, will hold thy right hand, and say to you, “Don’t be afraid, I will help You”.  Isaiah 41:13

Dear Sweet Sister,

I sat with my morning coffee and my bible in hand when I received the text, “please pray for my ______(family member) ….and then she wrote,

“When it rains it pours!”.

This sweet sister has had many tough challenges recently and now she had another family member who needed help.

I wrote her back the first verse of the poem below that I had written years ago:

In the midst of storms rainbows are born, His Love shines through our tears, In the midst of storms rainbows are born, He is here, He is here. 

I wrote this poem after my husband remarked that for a rainbow to appear, rain needs to still be in the air as the sun shines through the droplets.

Before this revelation, I had always stated the often quoted “After the rain, the rainbow”. But this quote isn’t accurate is it?  physically or spiritually? The rain is needed to create the rainbow.

My sweet sister texted me back , “Rain always brings beautiful flowers”.

“Yes!”I replied “and God the gardener prunes those that He loves…So that we become stronger and bear more fruit”.

The idea that God is in the midst of our pain holding our hands brings such peace to me.

A rainbow speaks of God’s promise to provide dry land and a second chance once the storm subsides.

I hope the poem below gives you hope and peace. He is making something beautiful out of this dark stormy time.  He is with you during the storm…for in the midst of storms, rainbows are born.

In the midst of storms…rainbows are born Day #10 Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

The Lord is pleased with those who worship Him and Trust His Love. Psalm 147:11

Dear Sweet Sister:

Do you feel tired and weighed down by your own struggles or of those around you? I have so many people whom I love who are going through the furnaces of ….. physical pain, a broken heart, addiction, marriage struggles etc.

I use to love to quote the saying:  After the Rain…….the Rainbow. 

but a wise man once told me that rainbows can only occur when rain droplets are present as they are needed for the sun to shine through….. So it is more accurate to say….

In the midst of Storms……Rainbows are born.

For a rainbow to occur there must be both water droplets and the sun.

Jesus is the Light of the World and He is present in this dark time that you or your loved one is going through. Hold on with a trusting heart and after the darkest part of the storm is over……when the droplets are not even visible anymore…a glorious rainbow will be born.

Sweet Sister…….. God only allows these situations because He is going to turn them into something good…….For He works all things out for good for those that Love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

He is with you and He is with your loved one during this tough time and He only allows this struggle if something greater will result.

The greatest example of this is Jesus dying on the Cross….God allowed this to happen only because the greatest good of all would result from His death and resurrection….. The sacrifice of the lamb of God would take away the sins of the world.

Imagine the spectacular rainbow that is around God’s Throne.

All around Him was a glowing Halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me. Ezekiel 1:28

 The Light of the World tranforms our stormy situations to a glorious rainbow as we trust in His love and seek to obey Him as Noah did.  

In the midst of storms    Rainbows are born

His love shines through our tears

In the Midst of Storms  Rainbows are born

He is here,  He is here.