For many years, Morton Salt featured a girl with an umbrella under the pouring rain. Though the image has been adjusted over the years, the same basic picture is still featured on their products. Their slogan since 1914 has been, “When it rains, it pours.” This was to illustrate the fact that even during damp weather, the salt would be free of clumping. Even during rainy weather, the salt could pour. But perhaps there is a double meaning to that slogan.
The other meaning implies that when bad things happen, it seems to happen all at once. Who knew that a salt brand could be so wise? Maybe you experienced this in your own life. Perhaps this is where you are now. After all, it has been pouring in Hilo for over a week. Does your life seem like a storm right now? Are you so desperate that you would even settle for a break—like light a drizzle amidst the downpour? What do we do when we face the difficult times in life?
We find some wisdom in the book of Romans. This is a letter that Paul wrote to Christians who lived in the capital city of the Roman Empire (Rome). Paul had endured much suffering such as persecution. Though this letter was most likely written before Paul’s first imprisonment, this passage could’ve really resonated with him after the fact. Paul writes:
“And 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
That is great news! If you are a follower of Christ, God can use the trial that you are going through for good. God can make sense of the downpours of life. Notice how the passage doesn’t say that God will rescue you from your circumstance. He will simply redeem or transform your negative experience into something good. The assurance of this passage is that God is at work and God has a purpose. This passage is not meant to get us OUT of the storms of life, but rather get us THROUGH the storms of life.
I remember when my wife Lauren got her first brand new car. We were so excited. She had saved up money for the down payment, and it was time to make a selection. She decided on a Honda CR-V. It has been the perfect vehicle for us and our needs. But it was quite interesting...Once Lauren got her CR-V, I started noticing a ton of them all over Hilo. It was almost like they magically appeared overnight.
Is that what happened? Did everyone decide to purchase a CR-V the same time as Lauren? Of course not. What changed overnight was my perspective. I noticed the CR-V’s all over town because that particular SUV model had suddenly entered my point of view.
The same can be said with God. When His will and purpose enters our point of view, we can learn to trust it more. This can help us to endure the storm. It can help us to gain God’s perspective. It can change our attitude toward our current circumstance. Once again it’s not saying that God will always deliver us from the storm (He does that occasionally). What it is saying is that God has a purpose and a plan, and it is good. If you are a Christ follower, that is your hope through the trials of life.
It’s true...Sometimes in life...“when it rains, it pours.” The good news is--much like the girl on the Morton Salt containers-- we have an umbrella to weather the storm. That umbrella is gaining God’s perspective as we trust His perfect will.