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“Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.” Henry Wordsworth Longfellow This poem comes out of difficult experiences. Longfellow lost his first wife from a miscarriage; his second wife, years later, died from severe burns.  He used “rain” as a metaphor for the difficulties/trials though which we pass. Believers are not exempt from the “rainy days” – the difficult times. Peter used a different analogy: “fiery trial.” (1 Pet. 1:7): “tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire. . .”   4:12: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you.” The text looks to the time of the Babylonian captivity. What a sad, difficult experience (cf. Ps. 137). The general setting anticipates the return of the captives. However, the difficult experience is likened to passing through the waters.  Is. 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you . . .” PROPOSITION: We should maintain the right attitude as we “pass through the waters.” How? Scripture stresses three basics in that attitude…