They say the weather here is deceptive. When you’re getting ready to throw yourself outside out of your home all day to meet people and share the good news, the saying rings even louder in your ears.

Today a brief rain storm dropped the temperature way down, and I imagined a miserable time getting stuck out in the cold. I thought about all the clothes I was lacking and what a problem that would be. The forecast told me otherwise but the pessimism fueled by my immediate situation had a much tighter grip on my brain.

After 20 minutes though, the sun was out full force and I was sweating. In no time the air would be filled with that clarity and joyful optimism that comes after the rain. People would be cheerful and open and the world and work before us would be as clear and dazzling as the bright colors that come out on the Bosphorus after the air is cleared by a summer rain. And there’d be all kinds of fun opportunities for people to hear about Jesus’ death and resurrection for the very first time.

Follow the forecast of faith and don’t get deceived by the momentary storms and cold. We can always think of many reasons why it won’t work today, or what will be difficult, but there’s always great surprises waiting if we’ll step out of our door, and out of our neighborhood.

“You will go out in joy and be lead forth in peace; The mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” - Isaiah 55:12