The Need to Pray for a Hard Rain to Fall

The Florida Forest Service website shows a map of current burn bans in Florida. Besides Sarasota County, south of Tampa, all the burn bans are in our area. Our land is thirsty – not for a few sprinkles but enough rain to replenish the parched ground. https://shorturl.at/muGN8

As Christians, we know that rain is a blessing from God. It falls upon us to lift our voices in prayer to Him from whom all blessings flow. We can look to the Scriptures to see what God says about rain.

While the Apostle Paul was preaching in the city of Lystra, he healed a man crippled from his mother’s womb. The people called Paul and Barnabus gods and prepared to offer sacrifices to them. When Paul heard about their plans, he rushed into the crowd and cried out,

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

“who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:15-17)

Paul told the people that rain was a witness of God’s goodness despite their ignorant worship of false gods. He still provided rain for fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness.

When not accompanied by a destructive storm (Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:39), rain is a witness of God’s goodness. Yet, how many times do we complain when it rains? Farmers know what a blessing rain is. Anyone who has a garden or tends a lawn knows that no watering we provide can produce growth like only rain can. Despite our complaints, God sends His rain to us as a witness of His goodness.

God spoke to the people of Samaria through the prophet Amos. He rehearsed what He did to cause the people to repent and return to God, including withholding rain.

“I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered.

So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.” (Amos 4:7-8)

God has abounded His grace and mercy to us through Jesus Christ. Mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve, and grace is when we get what we don’t deserve. Yet, in our human weakness, we still sin. God knows this and has provided us with cleansing and righteousness through the blood of Christ.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Even though we live in an age of grace through Jesus Christ, we can’t help but wonder about the lack of rain. Is the Lord trying to get our attention? Should we examine ourselves in light of His Word? Since we sin in our human frailties, shouldn’t something as dire as a burn ban give us pause to confess our sins to God?

We can cry out to the Lord,

“Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8)

We can speak the promises of God from the Scriptures, for His thoughts are higher than ours.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:9-11)

Only our God can bring forth rain. Cloud seeding attempts to condense water already present in a cloud, causing it to fall, but scientific studies are still inconclusive to its effectiveness.

“Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for You, Since You have made all these.” (Jeremiah 14:22)

We can look at God’s promises regarding rain and speak the truth of His Word instead of complaining about our parched circumstances.

“He gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields.” (Job 5:10)

“For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.” (Job 37:6)

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.” (Joel 2:23)

“then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:4)

Jesus used God’s blessing of rain to teach us how to be children of God and not to act like the children of this world.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:44-46)

We can turn to God in prayer and ask for rain.

“Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.” (Zechariah 10:1)

God is the Father of lights (James 1:17), and we are His lights in this world (Matthew 5:14). We shine as lights in this world as we hold forth the Word of life (Philippians 2:15-16). If we don’t speak His promises and pray, who will?

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Lord, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ and humbly seek your face. We turn from any of the world’s wickedness that we have allowed to cling to our hearts. We thank you for being faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for your blessing of rain. Quench our parched land. We thank you and praise you for your faithfulness to your promises, dear Lord. You alone are the Most High God, from whom all blessings flow!