Reflections for Lent

Genesis 9:8-17 NRSV

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

God's Promise of Rainbows

“Look for the Helpers” is a quote credited to Fred (Mr.) Rogers from his children’s television show that ran from 1968 to 2001.  He speaks of this as advice his mother gave him on handling tragedy in our world.  Sometimes the helpers are not as easy to see, but there are signs. In our everyday lives, we see things that remind us that no matter how overwhelming or upsetting life can be, there are usually some helpers, if you look hard enough.  The Lord is our ultimate helper and the one we lean on when all seems lost.  God even gave us a beautiful, visual example of His love that ironically comes immediately after a storm, the Rainbow.  As we navigate the storms of our lives, we are not alone; sometimes the rainbows are very hard to see.  We may have to search for them, just as we have to search for helpers.  We always know, however, that the rainbows are there, whether or not we see them, because they were promised by our ultimate helper, the Lord. 

~Christi McClintock~

Lord, help me to always remember Your promises as I navigate the storms of life.  When the world around me seems too much, let me remember the rainbow after the storm to keep me focused on You so that I do not become discouraged.  Remind me to look for the rainbows. In Your name I pray, Amen.