Rejoicing in Bad Weather

"The weather is one of the varied proofs of God’s goodness: He sends the sunshine and the rain to fertilize the earth and make it fruitful. Let us not murmur, but rather bless His name for all." – A.W. Pink

Photo by frame harirak on Unsplash

As a lifelong Floridian, there's a phrase you hear often: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.” Every year, we experience sweltering heat, violent thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and—just last month—an unexpected snowstorm. This time of year is particularly unpredictable; one day, it’s 30 degrees, and the next, it’s pushing 85. You never know what to wear.

Yet, no matter the season, one thing is certain: we are never quite satisfied. When it’s hot, we long for the cold. When it’s cold, we long for the heat. We complain when it rains. We complain when it’s cloudy. We complain when it’s too dry. It seems like we have trained ourselves to see the inconvenience of the weather rather than its beauty and purpose.

But God gives both the rain and the sunshine, and He calls us to rejoice in both. He does not send them at random but with wisdom and goodness, providing for the earth and, ultimately, for us. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus reminds us that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The changing seasons, the storms, the heat, and the cold are all under His sovereign care. What if, instead of grumbling, we learned to see the weather as an invitation to trust Him, to delight in what He gives, and to worship Him in all circumstances?

C.S. Lewis captured this well in That Hideous Strength:

“Everyone begins as a child by liking Weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Haven’t you ever noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children—and the dogs? They know what snow’s made for.”

Children see the joy in what we dismiss as inconvenient. A storm becomes an adventure. Rain becomes an opportunity to splash in puddles. Snow is not a disruption but a gift to be played in. Perhaps part of growing in faith is learning to recover that childlike wonder—to remember that even in the unpredictable and uncomfortable, God is at work.

So, whether today brings sunshine or rain, may we receive it with gratitude. May we bless His name in every season, knowing that He is good in them all.