Growing up, I loved getting into our little white volvo. My brother and I in the back with our dog, Nash, sticking his head out of the sunroof as my mom drove. She would turn on her music and blast it as we sang along. We would listen to Bonnie Raitt, Don McLean, Amy Grant and so on, but my favorite was always Bonnie Raitt. I turn on her music now as an adult and it’s as if I transport right back to that little girl in the back of the car.

The other day I was listening to music that was not by Bonnie Raitt, but a song called “Mine” by Hollyn. She sings about how I am His and He is mine. As I thought about the idea that not only does He claim me, but He is Mine as well it reminded of a Bonnie Raitt song. She has a song called “I Can’t Make You Love Me” which is about exactly what the title says it is. I can’t make you love me if you don’t.

Now my mom may get upset with me on this part, but that’s okay as she uses me in her teachings sometimes too. She used to always say that the song “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was her and my dad’s song. She would use this along with a line from the musical Funny Girl that the “groom was prettier than the bride.” She has always said that my dad was so good looking that she didn’t know how she got him. That she can’t make him love her. Naturally, this irritated my dad and eventually they did find a new song.

All this to say, that there’s nothing we could do to make God love us. We don’t deserve Him. There is nothing we could ever do that could win His love. What is the beauty of this? We don’t have to because He chooses us! I can’t make Him love me, but for a reason I will never understand, He does. I will never measure up to be worthy of Him. I will never be deserving of His love and yet He bestows it on me willingly, happily, perfectly.

As I sang along in my own car about how He is mine, I could only smile. I can’t make Him love me, but He is mine! My God belongs to me just as I belong to Him. He says in Isaiah 43:1 that “I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world.” This is more than just a simple God loves you. He hand-picked you above all others to be His bride and has given Himself entirely to you in return. He doesn’t see the imperfect me that I see when I look in the mirror. He sees only beauty even though this Groom is far prettier than the bride.

When my husband and I moved back to the Dallas area, it was a very bittersweet feeling. Although I was happy to be moving back home, I was also sad to be leaving all the friends we had made in Lafayette. As time went on I was grateful that my husband was still in the Louisiana National Guard so that the kids and I could still occasionally tag along on his drill weekends. This past weekend was drill so we loaded up the car and made the drive.

The week before we left, I started reaching out to friends to make plans. Friday was blocked off for not only one of my closest friends, but Jones’ as well. Saturday, we got in a very quick visit with my husband’s aunt and cousin before we headed off to dinner with friends that just had a new baby. Sunday, I skipped the sermon and sat in the café with a wonderful friend and was surprised by another showing up, even if for just a few minutes.

When we got in the car on Tuesday to head back home, I could only think of how blessed I am. My soul felt replenished after visiting with so many wonderful friends. It reminded me of Genesis 2:18 that says, “it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” And while in context this is when God created Eve for Adam, it is also fitting of friendships.

It is not good for us to be alone. We need the community and conversation of other believers to lift and fill us back up. I walked with these people through some really difficult times. We have seen each other broken and we have seen each other soar! We have walked side by side encouraging each other through prayer and the Word. It forms a bond unlike any other.

It reminds me of my husband with his military buddies. They have been to war and back with each other. They have relied on one another to survive and to get each other home. It forms a bond of brotherhood that is lifelong. It is the same when we walk through the storms of life with other believers. We have gone through spiritual battles with one another and we have relied each other to survive.

God created Eve to be a helpmate for Adam. In the same sense that I am a help mate to my husband, I need friends to be a helpmate for me as well. To tell me when I am out of line in my marriage, to encourage me in the biblical raising of my children, to help me stay the course when I am struggling.

Romans 1:12 it tells us “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” When I was gathered with my friends, our conversations were about the things that God is doing in our lives. Both the good things and the hard things. We were able to encourage each other. My soul was refreshed by the conversation of God’s workings. I left more encouraged than when I arrived.

It is not good that man should be alone. Do not isolate yourself from the fellowship of other believers. Yes, the Word refreshes me. Yes, worship fills me back up. No, there is no one like Christ. But when we are continuously pouring out for our husbands, our children, our jobs, the church, there is nothing better than the sweet fellowship of other believers to refresh my soul. To remind me that I am not alone in this journey.

I’d also like to give a quick shout out to Tanya Gary. Why? She knows why.

I can honestly say that in my house, we are officially over winter. I don’t know how much more of it we can take. The other morning, I was driving my son to school and he asked when the seasons would change. He is tired of dead trees and wants to see all the pretty colors again. I laughed at the irritation I heard in his voice. He then asked if when the seasons change, will the rain stop too? I told him it is unfortunately, the opposite. As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” He was disappointed.

I told him that although we get sick of the rain, that it’s a good thing. All the trees and grass are dead. The rain will come down and nourish the ground which in turn will help the trees and grass and flowers come back to life. It’s how God intended it. The next day as I drove into Dallas I dwelt on the conversation I had with my son.

I saw the trees that were once full and beautiful with vibrant shades of green that are now void of any color or life. I thought that’s how we must look. Maybe once we were vibrant. Maybe once we had every shade of green on our branches that soaked up the sunlight. The shade we offered drew people to us. But the winter has dried us all out.

God began to speak to me. A new season is coming He said. He is getting ready to send the rain. A spiritual downpour is on the horizon. I can see the clouds moving in. I feel the wind changing and I can hear the thunderous roar in the distance. My roots are parched in this dry ground and I am ready for the water. My soul longs to be quenched. I am ready to be full and vibrant once again. I want to offer shade to others that are in need. Even better if I can share fruit off my branches.

Are you ready for the rain? The downpour is coming. The storm is fast approaching. Ready yourself for the outpouring of the Lord!