Sometimes it rains.

That’s a pretty profound statement, I know. But it’s true. Sometimes it rains.

And when it rains, plans have to change.

But just because plans have to change doesn’t mean that you aren’t making progress.

It just has to take a different form.

We just got hit by Tropical Storm Debby. It’s been raining for most of the past week. In just over three days, some areas here in central Florida received over 20 inches of rain. Yeah, I said 20 inches.

With that amount of rain, plans have to be adjusted.

The same is true in leadership. Sometimes things happen that require you to rethink where you are headed, or at least how you’re going to get there.

And, frankly, I often wish it wasn’t raining, It’s simply easier to stay in the routine. When we lived in Missouri, I had a simple way of doing things every day. I knew what each day would look like, to a large degree. Some things had to flex here and there, but for the most part, Monday looked much the same from week to week. Or Wednesday. Or Friday.

But with our change of location to Florida, all of that has changed. We’ve been here for almost two months and I still don’t have a regular routine developed. Part of that stems from the fact that every thing is new to us, in a place that isn’t the midwestern, Bible Belt mentality that I’m used to. Part of that also stems from the fact that it’s summer, which means camps and mission trips. Changes happen. And I’m used to that.

I just don’t know what normal looks like yet. I’m looking at the sky, and all I see are more rain clouds coming.

Here’s the crazy thing. Just because I’d be more comfortable the way it was before the changes doesn’t matter. After the rain, I will see how God has grown me through it. And if I look closely enough, I can see how he’s doing it during the process.

Take my yard, for example. Before Debby hit, it was dry, spotty, sparse. But with all the water my grass has received, I can see the growth happening, almost before my eyes. And after it dries out a bit, I will have to do some yard work.

God often uses the rain in our lives as a catalyst for significant growth.

For me, at this point in my life, it’s getting established into a new ministry, developing relationships and programs, and finding an even keel.

I can’t wait to see what the end results may be!

Is it “raining” in your life? What might be lurking just beyond the storm? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.