Acts 14:17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
We all go through seasons of need. None of us are able to avoid the times that feel empty and hopeless. But we have a God who provides all our needs and we don’t have any reason to worry about where the things that we are lacking will be made available. And those times of need shape us and mold us into the people we are today. Each test is another thing we have overcome that adds to our testimony.
When we look at this verse in context, we see how during Paul and Barnabas’s missionary work in Lystra they used these common blessings (rain from heaven and crops in their seasons) to connect with a pagan audience. This was used to point the unbelievers to our Creator rather than false gods.
In times of need we are reminded that God communicates His reality through the created world (like when he sends the rain or blesses the seasons with abundance) rather than just through Scripture for all people, for both believers and nonbelievers. These blessings are evidence of God’s presence and power, urging all people to acknowledge Him.
The blessings mentioned in this verse are examples of what we call “common grace,” which is God’s general goodness that He has extended to all people, believers and non-believers. Common grace is different from saving grace and includes things that are beneficial to general societal good (like art, science, justice) and providing earthly blessings like sun and rain, all to sustain life. All of these blessings that come through common grace are meant to encourage repentance. It highlights God’s goodness, mercy, and justice in a fallen world, enabling people to experience His goodness.
If you are currently walking through a season of darkness, look around and make note of the common grace around you. Pay attention to the little things that we take for granted and thank Him for His provision. His blessings and kindness are ever present but we often overlook them because they are so simple. Today look for those blessings and celebrate the God who loves us so much that He provides for every need, whether we realize He is providing it or not.
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