There has been drought here in Ireland the past several weeks. No rain at all in what seemed like forever. A few days ago, the first sprinklings of rain finally came! It was refreshing; almost like seeing a friend again after a long absence.

Most of the grass has died and made the landscape depressingly brownish. But, a few intrepid blades have lasted and a few new ones are popping up.

As I sit here on the Trinity College campus, I’m glad that God has said this to me: he will rain down his Holy Spirit on this nation. It will be like the refreshment of welcoming home an old friend. On the grounds where I’m sitting have walked some people who loved the word of God. Before the college as we know it came to be (and some of the man-made bigotry that took place), people learned theology here. In fact, that was at the core of study. It might have been an English plot to reform the Irish, but God loves speaking to us in creative ways.

And he loves a good plot twist.

Since then, there has been a season of much-needed spiritual revival. But people haven’t much liked God’s word in the past 30 years or so. We have pushed him away and our spiritual landscape is looking bleak. But his rain is coming, to fill us once again and bring true refreshment to this land. Not forced by government, nationality or tradition, but breathed by the Spirit.