Graceful Rainbows

I see a rainbow just about everyday. When I swim at ASU in the mornings (they have the best pool and I'll miss my morning swims horribly after Toby's born), they have the sprinklers on to cool down the water. Yes, the sprinklers are annoying because they spray water in my face while I'm trying to kickboard, BUT they also make beautiful rainbows with the morning sun. Since I have nothing but time to myself for deep thoughts while I float along, I often remember the childhood story of Noah and the first rainbow God gave him after the flood.

Genesis 9:8-16
⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: ⁹ "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you ¹⁰ and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

¹² And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Last night at Excel, our church's student ministry, we asked the students what one thing was that they've learned about God in the past year. There were enough students answering so that I didn't share, but I couldn't help but think back to how I've felt these last 9 months - from finding out that we were going to have a baby, seeing that we're having a boy, feeling him move around inside me, to being so ready to meet him soon. All these crazy emotions have been rooted in further understanding that God is sovereign. Sovereign means being able to make and keep the kind of promise that He made to Noah. But there is one other not-so-small thing...God is also constantly showing me that I am the worst of sinners. Just thinking about how I've let my emotions run away with me lately or how terrified I am to have a child grow up and copy me brings so much evidence against me. And yet, my God is merciful and lavishly gives me His grace. The same mercy and grace He shows the world with His rainbow - He doesn't want to destroy us, He wants to love us immeasurably.

So tomorrow morning, when I see the rainbows in the sprinkler (assuming Toby doesn't try and come tonight ^_^), I'll be reminded of what a grace-full God I have and be joyful.

Love in Christ, and may you see many rainbows ~ Valerie