Watching the deluge out my window hour after hour (I took the attached picture from my back step a few minutes ago), I thank God for the gift of my faith.
 
I trust in His promise that I will not need to start constructing an ark, notwithstanding the evidence before my eyes!!
 
“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” [Genesis 9:11].
 
When storms come upon us, we tend to look at the things that instigate suspicion and fear in us, rather than trust in God that all will be well in His loving care, don’t we?
 
Little things even, like the crazy coincidence that this particular promise from God happens to be Genesis 9:11  
Hmmm…911. What’s up with that? Are we supposed to be thinking of calling 911 for help, instead of trusting in God?
 
Today is not coincidentally (all things happen in God’s providence) the feast day of the Apostle St. Thomas, the one always questioning Jesus, doubting, but also the guy chocked-full of passion and commitment, once he gave his heart to belief in God’s promise of salvation in Jesus.
 
In fact, it was Thomas who proclaimed that Jesus was not only the Messiah of the chosen people of God, but the Lord, God incarnate, fully human in all ways but sin.
 
Thomas is the disciple who wasn’t present when Jesus appeared to his mother and disciples gathered in prayer in the upper room, awaiting the fulfillment of the promise Jesus had made to his disciples just before ascending into heaven, i.e., to go to Jerusalem and wait there until the Holy Spirit empowered them to go out into the world with a mission to spread the good news of salvation in Jesus.
 
When Thomas returned and heard that Jesus had appeared to them while he was gone, he declared emphatically that he would only believe if he could put his hand in his side and fingers in the wounds in his hands.
 
When Jesus appeared in that same room a second time when Thomas was there and told him to do exactly that, put his hand in his side and fingers in his wounds, Thomas made the great proclamation of faith that is the foundation of the truth we stand on:
 
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [John 2026-29].
 
STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE!
 
God will then convince you with the transforming power of His mercy and love.
 
And when you see a rainbow after this rain, don’t think “queer culture,” thank God for His promise, and the sign He gave us to remind us of His faithfulness:
 
“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” [Genesis 9:13].