Rainbows and Promises

The rainbow has been special to me for many years. God has hung it in the sky when I needed assurance of His guidance and help. In the early days of home schooling our children I needed affirmation that this was God’s plan for our family and that He would take care of the legal aspect. While this was on my mind God hung a rainbow in the sky, assuring me that He would umbrella our home school and I was to continue teaching our children. For 16 years I taught our children at home, and never once did we run into any legal problems. Periodically God would stick a rainbow within my view as a reminder of His faithfulness.

One night a couple years ago I had a dream. In my dream our family was camping at some park. There were buildings and an area for tent camping. We were sitting in our camp, enjoying the out of doors, when I spotted a funnel shaped cloud beyond a vast green field.

All those within the campground entered a building, but our family crawled underneath and huddled in the dark, dirty space. In my dream I felt totally at peace. Nothing happened, so after some time we crawled out and discovered that the tornado had gone around the area. As our family headed back to our campsite I glanced across the field and saw another tornado heading our way. We hurried back to the building to seek shelter from the storm.

Shortly I heard a noise like a roaring train, and asked my husband if that was the tornado coming. He told me to be quiet, not to worry the children. When it was quiet again we exited from our cramped quarters to view the damage. One of our tents was blown over, so my husband set to work to upright it. I looked out over the field of lush green grass meeting with a blue sky above and late afternoon sunshine. Before my eyes the image of a large wooden windmill appeared in the field. I looked to the top of it at the large blades, and was amazed to see arched over the windmill in the field not one, nor two, but three rainbows! My heart felt overwhelmed with this assurance from my Father that all was well. In my dream I received a message from God that His promise to take care of or family is sure—triple sure.

As I think about this dream God gave me some time ago, and of my precious children, I believe the meaning holds significance. God is at work for each of them, and He promises to watch over them in all the storms of life. God is the Protector in the storms, the Provider of peace, and His Promise of salvation is sure.

“A covenant has been entered into by the Father and by the Son to save the world through Christ. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ No power save that of Omnipotence could make such a covenant. The rainbow above the throne is a token that God through Christ binds himself to save all who believe in him. The covenant is as sure as the throne, and his throne is established in righteousness. Then why are we so unbelieving, so distrustful? Why doubt so frequently, and trust God so fitfully? Whenever we come to the throne of God to ask his mercy, we may look up, and behold the rainbow of promise, and find in it assurance that our prayers shall be answered.” (Ellen White in Signs of the Times 1892)

When my tiny granddaughter, born three and a half months early, was dying from infections that had invaded her premature body, I wrote:

                            “Put your sunshine in my heart and a rainbow in my sky,
                            Even though I may have doubts, and ask the reason why.
                            Hold me close to you, O Lord, and wipe away my tears.
                            With Your presence comfort me, O Father, be Thou near.”

God answered our prayers for her healing, and gave her life. She is as a rainbow in my sky.

Recently, nine years later, my brother’s airplane went down in the jungles of Venezuela and nearly three months later search teams have still not found it. The above words, which my son put into a song (there are verses I wrote also) has become a theme song in my life. It begins, when the storm clouds gather, and entreats God’s help in the midst of difficult circumstances and asks Him to fill me with His joy.

In life there will be storms. Trials abound. Troubles press in. Clouds of difficulty arise. In the middle of the problems of life and the struggles and sorrows God does give us rainbows. A friend reminded me of this the other day. It isn’t just the ones we see in the sky after a rain, but ways God reaches out to us with encouraging actions and words, often through other people. He arranges moments of affirmation during hard times to show us He cares and He is on the throne.

Today, as I thought about the rainbows of God’s love to remind me of His promises I wrote this poem.

                                                              Rainbow Message

                                        The rainbow is God’s message placed in heaven above,
                                        A reminder of His constant care and enduring love.
                                        It rises on the stormy clouds, arched across the sky,
                                        Stating to the troubled heart Almighty God is nigh.

                                        Blended close together from red, to orange, then blue,
                                        The colored rainbow gives me hope; God’s promises are true.
                                        I gaze upon this wonder stretched amid the clouds,
                                        And listen to the words whispered to my heart by God.

                                        “I will never leave you, nor forsake you daughter dear.
                                        In the storms of life that come, I am ever near.
                                        The rain that falls, will only bring, colors to delight,
                                        When the sun peaks through the clouds with a ray of light.

                                        The red is for my blood I shed and orange shines through as grace.
                                        Yellow stands for hope, while blue prevails as faith.
                                        Dim shade of green betwixt the two symbolizes rest,
                                        While violet colors curve below, with royalty you’re blest.

                                        So trust Me when you can not see beyond the grey and gloom,
                                        I will shine in darkness; you’ll see a rainbow soon.
                                        And child, while you are waiting for a rainbow to appear,
                                        Remember I am with you, to comfort and to cheer.”

The above picture is a rainbow of promise given to my pilot brother, Bob Norton, and he snapped the picture as a reminder that God is always with him. Bob also took the picture below. No matter what the enemy does, God will never leave His children.

“The rainbow of promise encircling the throne on high is an everlasting pledge of God's love for us. It testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their struggles with evil. It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure.” (Ellen White in Signs of the Times 1902-03-19.014)