Spring is upon us and for many parts of the country, that also means rainy season. After all, "April showers bring May flowers.” With water being such a prominent symbol of Christianity, it should come as no surprise that many Christian artists have chosen to approach that with rain imagery in some of their lyrics. For this list, I’m taking a look at some such songs from classic Christian music, with all of them focusing heavily on rain imagery.
Jars of Clay - "Flood"
Jars of Clay’s signature hit from their debut album still holds up as one of the most iconic Christian rock songs of all time. The song pleads for Christ to “Lift me up when I’m falling” amidst the storms and trials of life that bombard us. It can often feel like we’re drowning in the rains of life, and only Christ can reach down into the depths and pull us back to fresh air.
Brother’s Keeper - "Rain On"
A band many Christian music fans may have forgotten, this song from Brother's Keeper boasts a distinctly late 1990s musical feel, a product of the era it was released. Apart from stylistic nostalgia, the song is worth revisiting for its worthy themes. The song speaks of the temporal nature of suffering, and how Christ has already won the ultimate victory for us. “Rain on I will not drown/I’m standing firm on higher ground.”
Downhere - "Raincoat"
When life is hard and sending storms to rain down on us, it can feel like anywhere we go we get drenched. Downhere sings of this in "Raincoat" from their debut album. In it, singer Marc Martel compares Christ to a raincoat that shields us from the drenching rains of life. “Now I walk out in the downpour with my raincoat/And after all is said and done, He's still the One/With my raincoat, anywhere I may go I know I'm all right.”
Superchick - "Stand In The Rain"
A popular use of the rain metaphor is seeing the rain as a metaphor for our tears. Superchick employs this in their emotional hit “Stand in the Rain.” In the song, the listener is encouraged to push back against the pain and sadness that they feel and to remain strong amidst their struggles. “Stand in the rain/Stand your ground/Stand up when it's all crashing down/You stand through the pain/You won't drown/And one day, what's lost can be found/You stand in the rain.”
Delirious? - "Rain Down"
Delirious? (yes, the question mark is part of the name) were a popular English Christian rock band that produced a lot of radio hits back in the 1990s and 2000s. World Service may arguably be one of their most iconic albums, with many of its singles going on to be signature hits. “Rain Down” was one such song, pleading for Christ to rain down heaven’s rain: “Cause living water we desire/To flood our hearts with holy fire.” While some songs use rain to represent storms and trials, Delirious? employs another metaphor that sees the rain as a healing and cleansing from heaven.
WhiteHeart - "Over Me"
This is one of my favorite songs from WhiteHeart, from their iconic album Freedom. The song talks about embracing the rains of life and seeing in them the love of Christ. Regardless of what storms may set out to drown us, this song sees these same waters as being the cleansing love of Christ. “Though the sky is dark/And there's a shadow on the land/The rain comforts me/It is the touch of His hand/And I feel His love pouring down over me/Warm healing waters that set me free/safe in the arms of eternity/Held by the wonder and mystery/Over me.”
Michael W. Smith - "Healing Rain"
Healing Rain was very much a transitional album for Michael W. Smith. After two immensely successful worship albums, the album returned to Smitty’s CCM/Pop sound that was popular in the 1990s, albeit updated some to the sounds of Christian radio in the 2000s. While Smitty remains an iconic name in the business, it’s hard not to feel like this was the last non-worship project of his that truly left a mark on the industry. (Other than his single cover of “Waymaker,” this was the last full album, as of this writing, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.) The title track was a big radio hit and is a fine example of the “healing rain” motif we’re examining in this article. “Healing rain is coming down/It's coming closer to the lost and found/Tears of joy and tears of shame/Are washed forever in Jesus' name.” The song shows how all of the tears we cry can be washed in the healing rain of Jesus.
Newsboys - "Let It Rain"
A lesser known hit from the earlier days of the Newsboys, this song again pleads for God to “let it rain” and wash us of our iniquities. “I have watched in wonder/As with a word You calmed a raging sea/I have seen You make the wine from water
Mud and water made a blind man see/Water still reminds me/Of the seaside where our eyes first met…I’ve been bathed in your mercy/By every gesture, every word You've said/Once I spoke of power and high position/You took a towel and washed my feet instead.” The song is a powerful reminder of how Christ can wash us from our sins, and how water has often served as a representation of Christ’s miracles throughout his ministry.
PFR - "Pray For Rain"
I recently wrote a whole article on PFR, whose name literally stands for Pray For Rain, which includes thoughts about the song the band takes their name from!
Big Dismal - "Rainy Day"
Big Dismal has recently made a big return to music in partnership with NRT Music. This song about rain from their initial tenure as a band is probably the one Christian music fans would remember most.
In this article, we’ve covered songs that use rain both to represent the storms that threaten to drown us and the waters of life that Christ uses to cleanse us. This song approaches both images, declaring how “Even when all hope is gone, I believe/That your love rains down on me.” Yet, even when we are in the midst of our struggles, “I can see you in the clouds/On a rainy day.”
What are some of your favorite Christian songs that are about the rain?
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
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