Heavenly Manna

Exodus 16 vs. 4 "Then the Lord said to Moses, I will rain down bread (manna) from heaven for you.  The people are to go our each day and gather enough for that day"
Have you ever found yourself in a difficult time in life, disappointment gathers on every side like a fast coming storm.  One moment the sun is shining down, birds are singing, then off in the distant you can smell the rain the air.  You are suddenly made aware that somewhere off in the distantance a storm is brewing.  The clouds start to gather in shades of gray and the earth trembles with thunder and the storm intensifies around you.  Life is a lot like this, your storm could be your finances, the death of a loved one, your own health being attacked.  There are all kinds of storms we all face, while a lot of them come with warnings,some of them are just suddenly thrust upon us out of nowhere. 
It is how we react to the storms that make the difference in our lives, we can run and be fearful or we can run into the arms of God the one who created us and rains down manna upon us.  His word in Exodus 16 tells us that the people had to go out daily and gather enough for the day.  God wants us to go out each day and gather his word in our hearts and in our souls and then and only then, will he rain down heavenly manna.  We have to be willing to gather and receive his manna by reading his word, praying and trusting him daily for all our needs, even at the darkest times of our lives, when storms are bruing that is when God can do his best work in us.  God gives us his strength and he nourishes us on a daily basis.  Answers do not always come all at once, but as we yield our storms of life to God's will and allow him to rain down manna on us, he will meet our needs.
I love the lyrics to the song by Casting Crowns "I was sure by now God you would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.  But once again I say, it's still raining, but as the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper in the rain, I'm with you.  And as your mercy falls I raise my hand and praise the God who gives and takes away.  And I will praise you in the storm and I will lift my hands. For you are who you are and no matter where I am, every tear I have cried, you hold in your hand, you have never left my side.  And tho my heart is torn, I will praise you in the storm"
While smelling the rain and expecting the storms in life, my prayer is that each of us will be able to remember that God will pour out his heavenly manna and that a rainbow is waiting on the other side of the storm for us to enjoy.