It has been hot and dry here. Wilting plants, sunburned grass, and drooping shrubs and trees continually remind us of the thirst a drought produces. We need rain.
I was watering the flower pots with my four-year-old granddaughter in the midst of the summer heat, and I told her we needed rain. She said, “I will talk to God.” And she proceeded to pray and ask God directly, “God, we need rain.” Then she said, “Come on, Grandma. Come into the garage so you won’t get wet.” I followed her into the garage and watched her gaze expectantly outside. After a minute or two, she walked outside and looked up at the bright blue sky littered with a few white, feathery clouds, and lifted her hands to feel the raindrops. Not one fell. But she fully expected the rain.
That’s childlike faith. The kind of faith Jesus said was necessary to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:17).
That’s faith-filled prayer. The kind that receives answers from the Lord (James 1:6-7).
That’s watchful prayer. The kind of voice the LORD will hear (Psalm 5:3).
That’s the prayer of a righteous person like Elijah who also prayed for rain! One that has great power as it is working (James 5:16-18).
I was inspired by this precious little girl’s prayer to remember that I am a child of God, so I can exercise childlike faith as I pray. Like her, I can watch for the answer as soon as I offer up my request and avoid doubting whether God hears or cares about my needs. She didn’t question whether she had God’s attention – she just asked. If I question whether my righteousness is enough to make my prayers effective, I can recall who I am in Christ. Because of His perfect righteousness, and because He called me to become one with Him through the shedding of His blood, God sees me as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). I have access to His throne to bring my requests because of Jesus.
The rest of the story: I told my granddaughter God heard her prayer and when He was ready, He would answer and send us the rain she asked for. And He did it the very next day! I’ve never been so excited to see rain! Not just because our receding lakes, dry creek beds, and parched grass needed refreshment and replenishing…no, more than that! I was thrilled to remind this sweet little girl that God answered the prayer she prayed in faith the day before!
Can you relate?
How’s your prayer life? Are you feeling parched? Thirsty? Doubting whether God sees your needs or cares about them? Questioning whether you’re really “righteous” in His sight or whether you have offended Him so He is not regarding your prayer?
I hope my granddaughter’s faith will remind us all to ask the Lord Jesus for what we need, fully expecting Him to answer in the best possible way at the most opportune time. Psalm 119:68 tells us God is good, and everything He does is good. Isaiah 40:31 says while we wait for the LORD, we renew our strength. If you’re in a drought, awaiting an answer from the Lord, could it be that He is actually strengthening you? God’s Word assures us the answer is on the way, and it will be good because of who God is and how He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Let’s offer up our prayers and eagerly watch (Psalm 5:3) for the spiritual “rain” that quenches, refreshes, renews, and re-energizes us to press onward, eyes upward…not looking at the clouds for rain, but beyond them to the God who sends showers of blessings.