Rainbow After the Rain: God's Promise in Hard Times

Pulling my motorcycle over right away, that was what I did when I saw a rainbow on my way home one afternoon. Because I rarely see a rainbow, I deliberately paused for a moment by the roadside to enjoy its beauty. It was then that I was reminded that God always stays with us in every situation, including in times of pandemic coronavirus. 

How often do we worry and feel unsure of God's care? We hope that the PSBB1 policy, or lockdown in other countries, as well as concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak can end soon. Yet this hope can become a miserable longing because we keep comparing life in the new normal2 with the past.

What can we learn from Noah about God's promise of care when life is uncertain?

Noah, Lockdown, and the Rainbow

A rainbow is an optical refraction phenomenon that occurs when sunlight passes through water droplets in the air. For Christians, the rainbow is also a promise of God's presence:

I 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 appears in the clouds, then I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. – Genesis 9:13-15

The Bible records the story of Noah's family, who once experienced a “lockdown” inside the ark. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he lived walking with God (Genesis 6:9). And he knew what it was like to go through lockdown for hundreds of days with his family and the animals. Yet, in the middle of those uncertain times, Noah set several examples that we can follow:

1. Draw Near to God and Family

Noah went into the ark with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives because of the floodwaters. – Genesis 7:7

The Bible does not record in detail what Noah and his family did while they were inside the ark. We may assume that they spent more time gathering, eating together, talking, and working together to feed the animals. Only after coming out of the ark and seeing the rainbow did they enter a new era of life on earth.

While working / studying from home, we can do positive things together with our family. We can reflect more deeply on God's word. Those who are married can pray more with their spouse or go on dates at home. Those who have children have more time to play with your sons and daughters and accompany them as they study.

In normal circumstances, as a marketing employee I usually travel around to various cities. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, I am no longer sent out of town, so I have more quality time with my wife. As a result, we more often go on dates and pray together. Of course this has had a positive impact on our marriage relationship.

A rainbow is beautiful because it has many colors. So, make your life colorful like a rainbow by drawing closer to God and family.

2. Trust in God's Care, and Do His Word

Then Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him. – Genesis 7:5

Noah's situation when God called him was clearly not easy. While building the ark, he also had to gather food supplies for his family and the animals they were sheltering (Genesis 6:21). Noah, who had been free to go about his activities, had to adapt to life inside a giant vessel, with all the noise and the various animal smells. 

You may still be able to go out occasionally to shop for basic needs or exercise, but that was not the case for Noah. Outside his ark there was only the sea and heavy rain. He could not go anywhere. Yet notice Noah's response: he still did everything God commanded because of trust in His care. 

If we put our trust in God, we will remain faithful and do His commands in any situation. If we can trust God in normal circumstances, then in abnormal conditions we are also expected to keep trusting. Like a rainbow after the rain, surely we will receive the beauty of life after passing through many struggles. 

3. Keep Patient and Grateful

“Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you; bring out with you every living thing that is with you: birds, animals, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may swarm on the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” – Genesis 8:16-17

Imagine living in an ark floating in the midst of the floodwaters for hundreds of days. You would probably become extremely bored. Noah surely felt the same. Even so, he remained patient. He waited for the floodwaters to recede, and only came out of the ark after God commanded him to come out. 

If Noah went through lockdown with tens of thousands of animals for more than a year without complaining, what about us? 

Those of us who work / study at home are far more fortunate than the medical workers fighting on the front lines, sacrificing their time, energy, and safety to heal coronaviruspatients. They have to wear layers of clothing and protective equipment for hours, and also work overtime for days on end. Our risks look much smaller than the risks they face.

Do not let circumstances steal our joy, but let our joy color the world like a rainbow. What you think is boring is the very dream of medical workers right now, namely being able to go home and gather with family every day. So, be grateful! There are people who greatly long for the lifestyle you have right now.

Count the blessings from God that you are able to enjoy. Be grateful that you can still gather with family. Be grateful for your health, because you can still work / study or do daily activities at home. Be grateful for what you have and what you are still able to do today. 

4. Make the Best Use of Time

While waiting for the pandemic to pass, we are encouraged to stay at home, not take a vacation and do nothing. So, this is the right moment to evaluate andupgrade yourself to a higher level.

Use this stay at home season to reflect on what we have been doing so far. Has what we have been doing all this time—in work, business, study, ministry, and so on—been effective and efficient?

If we are employees who experience a salary cut, let us not only complain and do nothing. Use this opportunity to look for a side business. If we are entrepreneurs whose income has declined, use this time to discuss with other businesspeople, read books, or attend onlineseminars. If we lose our jobs, while looking for a new job, improve your skills through reading, workshops / courses online, or start your own business.

The point is, there are many things we can do besides feeling sorry for ourselves and giving up. Ask for wisdom from God about how to become a more developed person and be able to reach a better emotional and spiritual level.

God has promised to always be with us until the end of the age, and the rainbow is proof of the fulfillment of His promise. As we work / study from home, let us draw near to God and family. Trust in His care, keep diligently doing His word, remain patient and grateful, and keep evaluating ourselves. Amen!

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1Large-Scale Social Restrictions
2www.kompas.com/sains/read/2020/05/26/163200023/apa-itu-new-normal-presiden-jokowi-sebut-hidup-berdamai-dengan-covid-19?page=all#page3

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