Rain in the Promised Land

by Vanessa Miller

  Isaac sat down on the bed next to his wife. “I’m not following, what has gotten you so worried?”

  Rolling her eyes Heavenward, Nina felt like she needed to shake some sense into her husband’s head. He just wasn’t taking into account all the dangers associated with this taking-it-to-the-street type of revival he and Keith were putting together. “I know you’re not crazy, Isaac Walker. You know there’s trouble just as well as I know it. Especially since that cop shot that boy in the back last week and those kids started rioting.”

  “I understand your concern about the riot. But that happened in Middletown, Nina. And it has nothing to do with what Keith and I are trying to do, except that we want to get these kids off the streets before any more of them die without having a chance to fulfill their purpose on Earth.”

  “That all sounds good, except for the fact that,” Nina pointed toward the television, “they just reported on the news that a bunch of those same rioters are headed to Dayton to join forces with some of the local thugs here. They’re going to loot and riot and make all kinds of trouble for people who had nothing to do with that shooting.”

  “That must be what Calvin had up his sleeve.” Isaac shook his head.

  “Who is Calvin?”

  Isaac almost responded to the question, but then kept his mouth shut while staring at his wife a second too long.

  His hesitation was noted. Nina hopped off the bed. “What aren’t you telling me? What’s going on?”

  “Nina, calm down. You’re getting excited over nothing.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not over nothing. You knew about this riot before I mentioned it to you,” she accused.

  “I didn’t know about the riot.”

  The nightly news had had ended so Nina changed the channel to CNN. They had reported about the Saint Louis and Baltimore riots, maybe she could get Isaac to listen to reason if CNN was reporting about a riot heading their way. But as she turned to the television, Nina wasn’t confronted by news of any riots, but of something much more sinister and shocking.

  Pictures of nine black men and women were displayed across the screen, and then the camera showed an image of a young, white man with an odd bowl-shaped haircut being handcuffed and led away. She and Isaac said nothing as they listened to the account of how this young, white man went into a black church in Charleston, SC, sat with the members of the congregation, and then took out a gun and began shooting. When it was over, he had murdered nine innocent people, who were guilty of nothing more than being black and worshiping the Lord at their church.

  With a heavy heart, Nina turned to Isaac, a look of disbelief in her eyes as she asked, “How could something like this happen? Where was God?”

  Isaac pulled his wife into his arms, trying to shelter her from her own doubts. As long as he’d known Nina, he’d never heard her question God about anything. She had been the one to teach him how to trust God no matter the situation. But isn’t that one of the reasons man and woman join together in marriage—so that when one is weak the other will be strong? It was his turn to be strong in faith for Nina. Isaac wouldn’t let her down.

  “You’re forgetting that God isn’t the only player in this.” Nina released Isaac as she wiped the tears from her face. Isaac continued, “Remember, baby, in these situations there is God, the Devil, and the rest of mankind.”

  “But isn’t God all-knowing? Why isn’t He stopping some of this stuff before it happens? I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  “I seriously believe that we are living in a Romans 1 kind of world. And that kind of world no longer hears God, they do what is right in their own eyes and they are filled with hate and murderous intentions.”

  “But in a church, where people were worshipping? I just don’t get it.”

  “I’m amazed that you are even thinking this way, Nina. We’ve been in this way too long to not know what’s really going on.”

  “I can’t help it, Isaac. There is just too much tragedy going on in the world. I don’t want to be, but I’m on edge all the time. Just last year, some thug came to our home trying to kill you and Ikee… now they’re just going into the house of God and taking people out.”

  “Pull the Bible out of the drawer, Nina. I think you need to read Matthew 24:21-22 again. Maybe then you’ll understand what we’re up against and why it is so important for Christians to minister the gospel in whatever way the Lord leads.”

  “Just like you told me, there are more players than God in this. God could be leading people into certain ministries, or you could be leading yourself. And is God obligated to help if you came up with these street revivals all on your own?”

  She was back to that. Isaac sighed as he tried to pull Nina back towards the bed. “Come sit back down so we can talk about this reasonably.”

  She shook him off. “I can hear what you have to say from right here. Who is Calvin?” She asked again, like a dog with a bone, refusing to let it go.

  “Okay, you’re upset. I get it. But Calvin Jones never told me he was going to start a riot here. I just assumed it must be him because he asked me and Keith to forgo the revival so he and his boys could do something about police brutality.”

  “And you didn’t think to mention any of this to me?”

  Isaac tried to laugh the matter off. “It’s no big deal, Nina. We told Calvin that we weren’t interested in helping with his crusade, because we had our own. End of story.”

  Pointing an accusatory finger at him, Nina shouted, “It’s no big deal to you, Isaac Walker, because you’re not afraid of anything or anybody. You think you’re made of marshmallows and bullets just bounce right off of you. But I’m tired of dealing with these street thugs.”

  “Baby, you married a street thug,” he reminded her, then instantly wished he hadn’t.

  Nina’s hands went to her ears. “I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it.”

  Pulling her into his arms, Isaac told her, “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have been so glib about it. I know that you have grown weary with the life you married into.”

  “Cancel it, Isaac. Cancel the street revival and I won’t say another word about any of this.”

  “If I could cancel this event I would, just because of how upset you are… but this revival is bigger than both of us, Nina. This is my assignment from God.”

  Nina loved Isaac and she loved the Lord with all her heart. The last thing she wanted to do was come between anyone with an assignment from God. She stepped away from Isaac’s embrace and went into their walk-in closet. When she came back into their bedroom she was carrying sheets, a blanket, and a pillow. She handed them to Isaac.

  “So it’s like that, huh?” he asked, looking a bit stunned.

  “You have an assignment from God and I have a need to sleep all by myself.”

  After throwing Isaac out of their room, Nina did as he’d asked and opened her Bible to Matthews 24:21-22

  For there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

  Nina certainly felt like she was living in the day of great tribulation. You could hardly turn on the news without hearing about some tragedy to a family or a nation. Maybe she was getting a little weary with evil being at every corner. So if God was going to send the rapture to take her, the elect, away from this crazy and seriously messed up world, then all she could say was, come Lord, Jesus.

  Nina had been so stressed lately that she hadn’t been picking up her Bible as much as she normally would have. So, instead of putting it down after reading the scripture Isaac had asked her to read, she turned to the book of Romans. As a writer, Nina loved reading the Old Testament because those pages were full of history and the emotions of life, but her husband had said that they were now living a Romans 1 existence.

  She was now reading through chapter one of the
book of Romans trying to see a resemblance to the world she lived in. The first several verses of Romans were filled with things that seemed rather ordinary and unrelated to the day they were living in. But once she got to verse 18, Nina began to remember what this chapter was all about…

  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God-head; so they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the un-corruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…

  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen…

  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable unmerciful:

  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  As Nina closed her Bible, even though she was still upset with her husband, she had to admit that he was right—they were definitely living in a Romans 1 kind of world. She just didn’t know what, if anything, she could do about it, and that terrified her.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning the Walker house was a flurry of activity. Iona and her husband Johnny were the first to arrive. But before Nina could close the door behind them, Donavan and his wife Diana pulled into the driveway.

  As Donavan and Diana ran into the house, Nina said, “Well son, you came just in time to help me in the kitchen.”

  Donavan’s eyes got big as he looked around the room, trying to figure out who his mother was talking to.

  Diana laughed as she told Nina, “My husband only knows how to pick up the phone and order take-out if I don’t get home in time to feed him.” Shaking her head at Donavan, she told Nina, “But I’m here to help.”

  “Me too, Mama-Nina,” Iona chimed in. “I didn’t want you slaving away all by yourself this morning.”

  “Where are my wonderful grandchildren?” Nina asked Diana and Iona.

  “Diana and I paid for a babysitter. Those kids lose their minds in public places. And don’t nobody have time for that.”

  “I beg your pardon; my grandchildren are not that bad. They are perfect little angels.”

  “Speaking of perfect little angels,” Johnny said, “where is our graduate?”

  “Ikee has a big day ahead of him full of family and friends and, most importantly, getting that high school diploma that none of us thought he’d be getting this time last year.” Nina took a deep breath and then exhaled, “So I’m letting him sleep in.”

  Iona and Diana followed Nina to the kitchen while Donavan and Johnny went to the family room and stretched out on the sectional. It was 7:30 in the morning. Nina planned to have breakfast on the table by nine so they could have fellowship, eat, and then get down to the convention center by noon for Ikee’s graduation ceremony at one. “Daddy still asleep?” Iona asked while chopping up onions and green peppers for the omelets.

  Nina was still so upset with her husband that she hadn’t even gone to the guest room to check on him when she woke up. But knowing Isaac, he would be asleep for at least another hour. She wasn’t about to get Iona involved in their argument, so she simply said, “Your daddy don’t like to get out of bed before eight. He’ll be down soon enough.” Nina put her big iron skillet on the stove and started frying up a whole pack of turkey bacon. She was careful to keep her back towards Iona, so as not to give away any of the thoughts floating around in her head concerning Isaac.

  But if Nina was truthful with herself, she would have to admit that the struggle with her husband and her discontentment had not begun with the planning of these street revivals. What she was feeling now began the first time she had visited Isaac in the hospital after he’d managed to get himself shot. Her husband lived a dangerous life; things really hadn’t changed even after Isaac gave his life to the Lord because old enemies kept coming after him. Nina wanted them to run away from the evil and find their place of peace. But Isaac wasn’t allowing that to happen with this street revival madness he came up with. These street revivals were keeping her family right in the mix with the same thugs who tried to kill her husband every other Sunday, or so it seemed.

  But while Isaac hadn’t changed much throughout the years, because he still had the lion’s heart that wasn’t afraid of anything and was always ready to take on any challenge that got in his way, Nina had changed. Every time some thug tried to take her husband’s life, Isaac appeared to get stronger, but Nina had died a little each time. She was scared all the time these days and didn’t know how to express that to Isaac or how to let God into fix what troubled her heart.

  “The bacon is burning,” Diana said as she nudged Nina.

  “What? Huh?” Nina looked at the skillet. “Oh my goodness.” She scooped the bacon out of the pan and then put on some sausage links.

  Iona and Diana side-eyed each other. But before they could ask any questions there was a knock at the kitchen door.

  Nina opened the door and greeted Keith and Cynda as they walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, good people,” Nina said, as she hugged both of them.

  “Good morning to you as well,” Cynda said after she handed Nina a big pan of sausage gravy and biscuits. “My contribution to Ikee’s graduation breakfast.”

  “You shouldn’t have,” Nina said.

  But Iona grabbed the pan away from Nina, sat it on the table, and began examining the goodies. “Yes, she should have.” Iona looked toward Cynda and said, “Mama, you know how I love your biscuits and gravy.”

  Nina and Iona had a special relationship, but it never bothered Nina when Cynda came around and she had to share her stepdaughter with the woman who gave birth to her and raised her for the first nine years of her life. “Well, in that case, thank you for bringing the biscuits and gravy. Hopefully, the rest of us will be able to get a little taste before Iona goes to town on it.”

  “Is Isaac up?” Keith asked.

  Nina pointed upwards. “He’s in the guest room. You can go on up.”

  Iona and Diana side-eyed each other again. But Nina kept working on her breakfast and paid them no mind.

  Keith made his way upstairs and knocked on the door to the guest room.

  Isaac said, “Come in.”

  Keith pushed the door open and stared at his friend for a moment before laughing in his face. “Since when did you become a guest in your own home?”

  Isaac was sitting on the bench at the foot of the bed putting on his socks. He looked up at Keith and said, “Hand me those shoes next to the door, funny man.” Isaac had already showered and dressed by the time Keith came up the stairs. After tossing and turning in the full size bed, while Nina probably slept peacefully on their king size, pillow-top mattress, Isaac decided to get up early this morning in order to take care of his problem.

  Isaac put on his shoes, stood up, and grabbed his keys. He started walking toward the door, then turned back and asked, “You coming?”

  “You can’t go anywhere right now. N
ina’s down there cooking up a big breakfast for everyone.”

  “If I don’t leave right now, I’ll be in this guest room again tonight. And that just ain’t happening.”

  ~~~~

  “You ready to tell me what’s going on?” Keith asked, as Isaac backed out of the driveway and headed down the street.

  “I already told you… I need to see a man about my problem.”

  Keith shook his head. “I’m talking about you and Nina. You’re sleeping in the guest room and she barely even looked your way as we left the house.”

  Sighing as he turned the corner, Isaac admitted, “She wants me to cancel the street revivals.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Nina. She’s always been down for the work of the ministry.”

  “She’s changing, Keith. And I can’t blame anyone other than myself for what Nina is going through. To top it all off, the one thing she wants from me, I can’t give her because I’d be going against God.”

  “Nina’s got to think long-term,” Keith advised. “Because having you turn away from the Lord will not benefit your family when all is said and done.”

  “The problem is, she’s not thinking long-term. The only thing she’s thinking about is how dangerous this street revival could be, especially after hearing a report on the news about some riot that’s been planned for this weekend.”

  “What riot? I didn’t hear anything about a riot. Maybe Nina’s thinking about what just happened in Middletown.”

  “No, she’s right. Some idiots posted on Facebook about the riot. They plan to use our revival as their jumping off point. And I know whose idea that was.”

  They were driving through the hood as Keith asked, “You don’t think that little weasel is getting this going, do you?”

  “I know he is.” Isaac pulled up to a trap house, turned off the engine, and opened the door. “You coming?” he asked Keith as he got out of the car.

  “Boy, you know I’ve always had your back.”