Christ Your Cover // Matthew 5:45

Today is National Umbrella Day, a time to be thankful for the functionality of the umbrella. I like the Dolly Parton quote that talks about having to put up with a little rain if you want a rainbow. Jesus talked about rain in His Sermon on the Mount when He made the statement that God sends rain on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). The idea behind this is God is impartial when it comes to the elements of nature. A farmer might pray for rain on the same day a bride is praying for sun. The same rain the nourishes the soil can be a nuisance for plans to play on the very same ground.

When we think about umbrellas and their use, they can’t stop the storms, but they can help us endure them. The same is true of faith. All too often we want to think our faithfulness to God means we shouldn’t have to deal with difficulties, but what we find is God provides us ways to cope. The Lord doesn’t promise a life without storms, but He does promise His presence and protection in the middle of them. When life feels overwhelming, we’re invited not to run faster or pretend it isn’t raining, but to step under His covering.

An umbrella only helps if we actually open it. In the same way, God’s protection is something we must choose to trust — through prayer, obedience, and resting in His promises. What storms are you walking through right now? Are you trying to handle them alone, or are you choosing to stand under God’s care? On this National Umbrella Day, remember that the rains will come, but God wants to cover you with His loving protection so they are not your undoing. Will you trust Him?