Ever heard of a rain shadow?

It’s one of those terms I must have heard many times, but never paid any attention to. Until now.

Here in San Jose, California, we’ve gone a number of months with ZERO rain.

Recently, there was a chance for showers in northern parts of the San Francisco Bay area. But not in southern parts of the San Francisco Bay area such as San Jose.

The reason?

San Jose is in a rain shadow.

The weather app explained that a “rain shadow” is formed by mountains (or in our case by high hills) that block the moisture-laden winds blowing off the Pacific Ocean.

San Jose probably won’t receive meaningful amounts of rain for another month, when children are going door-to-door trick-or-treating for Halloween.

In our lives, what are the causes of “rain shadows”? What “high hills” keep us from receiving blessings!

Jesus listed some of them in his Parable of the Sower: Troubles. Persecutions. Worries. Deceitful wealth.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus elaborated on these “high hills”.

Jesus said this about “high hills” of troubles:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Jesus said this about “high hills” of persecutions:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10).

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matthew 5:11).

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12).

Jesus said this about “high hills” of worries:

“[D]o not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33).

Jesus said this about “high hills” of deceitful wealth:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24).

In his Sermon on the Mount, how did Jesus teach us to overcome these “high hills” of troubles, persecutions, worries, and deceitful wealth?

Put his words into practice!

Why?

Because Jesus ended his Sermon on the Mount by promising:

“[E]veryone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25).

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For additional thoughts about putting the Wisdom of the Sermon on the Mount into practice, please read my blogs: “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”, “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”, “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, and “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”.

To learn more about the Parable of the Sower that is the basis for this blog, please read my blogs “Good Soil”, “Good Soil Sees and Hears”, “Hardened Soil Along a Footpath”, “Shallow Soil in Rocky Places”, and “Thorny Soil”; and the chapters “Despite His Family’s Wishes, Jesus Continues His Work”; “Jesus Tells the Parable of the Sower”; and “Jesus Feeds Five Thousand People” in my book Hoping in the LORD (which draws upon all the Gospels), at pages 123-148.