23“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”

Dear God, it is good to be reminded to look for your goodness in the midst of trials. It is good to reminded of your gifts in the midst of stress. It is good to be reminded of your provision in the midst of worry and fear.

It has been a stressful week. My wife and I have both had a lot going on with our jobs. As I sit here on a Thursday morning, I am pretty spend. It is 6:20 and I have to speak at a Rotary Club meeting in about 30 minutes. The week has already taken a lot of my energy, and there is still much more to do. I didn’t sleep well at all because I was afraid of oversleeping for this presentation this morning—and I was a bit stressed because I knew I had to come into the office earlier than the presentation to pick up my handouts, which I forgot.

But this verse reminds me that I need to rejoice in you. It reminds me that you have given us autumn rains. In this case, you literally gave us autumn rains this last week, but you have given them to me figuratively as well. Frankly, it’s been a good week relationally with our children. That has been a nice reprieve from some of the combat we have done for a while. At work, I am strained about the donations coming in, but when I look back on the year, you have provided for us and continue to provide for us. You are good. You have brought us a good staff who works together for our patients. And you are still bringing us gifts. You have a retreat in store for my wife. You have given me a good, dependable job in the midst of economic chaos elsewhere.

Father, I will rejoice in you this morning. Please help me to not overlook all of the little things you do to bless me. Help me to see every place that your hand touches my life and to not take you for granted. I want to see you in everything around me. I want to be your blessing to others. I want to channel your Spirit to everyone I touch, including those to whom I will talk this morning. Be glorified in me so that others might rejoice in you and your good gifts as well.