We have been praying for rain for weeks. Our wet spring has turned into a dry, dry, dry summer. Every now and then a spot thundershower has hit here or there, but never enough to really nourish the crops. We do try to look on the positive side – we haven’t had to mow in several weeks!
We have watched the weather forecast and prayed. Watched and prayed. We’ve been asking for a day – or two – of nice, soaking rain, but nothing in the forecast has indicated such a thing would be coming.
I’ve been praying that God would prove the forecast wrong. But, I’ve still found myself watching that weather forecast, almost as if it would hold evidence that God has heard my prayers.
The answer came suddenly. Doug and I were sitting in his office yesterday, working on our separate tasks, when I looked out the window and saw something unexpected. The sun was shining, but it was raining! A nice, steady, pleasant rain.
I kept expecting it to stop. Instead, it clouded over completely and the rain continued to fall steadily for the next hour. Words cannot express how delightful it was! I could have stayed by the window and watched it the whole time. When the hour was done it stopped, and we expected the sun to come back out and the heat to return. But no. The rain continued off and on throughout the rest of the day.
I have yet to learn how it impacted the fields. One farmer had not received any of the rain that fell that first hour. By mid-afternoon he’d measured two-tenths of an inch.
I do know, though, that the rain did wonders for my soul. It was such a refreshing, rainy afternoon!
God’s blessing is like that. We pray and we pray and we pray, and when He answers it comes suddenly. Unexpectedly. Beautifully. Thoroughly.
God’s blessings refresh us. They draw us to Him. They remind us to thank and praise Him. And they remind us that He is the true giver of all good things.
We have rain possibilities in the forecast for the next week. But I’m not trusting the forecast. I’m trusting the One who brought an afternoon full of rain when only scattered thundershowers seemed even remotely possible. I’m not relaxing just because the weather people say there’s a 40% chance. I’m continuing to pray and ask the Lord to keep the rain coming as it is needed.
And I’m trusting Him with all of the other things I’ve been praying over. His responses will come. Not when I think they should, but when He knows they should. Not when I expect, but when He desires. Not in the way I anticipate, but in the way He knows will fulfill His perfect will.
And for today, I’ll still smile in thanksgiving for an afternoon of rain.
Not Quite Ordinary 