Does God Invite Our Prayers about Weather?
By Rick Shepherd
The states of Florida and Georgia desperately needed rain in the spring of 2007. More than 215 wildfires burned across Florida, creating lots of smoke and ashes in the air. The Bugaboo Scrub Fire in south Georgia was so big it placed a cloud of smoke over Atlanta and Birmingham.
My denomination (Florida Baptist Convention) called for a Day of Prayer for Rain on Sunday, May 27, 2007. We sent an eblast to pastors, publicized it through our Witness state paper, and broadcast the call to prayer on the radio. Many joined in seeking God for relief from the dire situation.
On Monday, a low-pressure system formed south of Key West. By Friday, June 1 (beginning of hurricane season), tropical storm Barry began pouring what became three to seven inches of rain from Key West to South Georgia, dousing all the fires and giving a 90 percent containment to the swamp fire. Jacksonville reported the wettest June 2 since weather records have been kept, back to 1873.
Weather and God’s Purposes
We often ask, “What’s tomorrow’s weather?” Rain, sun, ice, snow, searing heat, or frigid cold? Can the forecast change? Obviously, it changes often. Can prayer have a part in that? Should we pray about the weather? How does that fit in with God’s will and God’s ways?
Scripture has much to say about the weather, and often weather has played a part in seeing His will accomplished. Remember the days of the judges in the Old Testament? In Judges 4, we read of the people of Israel being oppressed by Jabin for 20 years. Through the prophetess Deborah, the Lord commanded Barak to gather an army at the River Kishon in the Jezreel Valley to battle Sisera (Jabin’s general) and his 900 chariots of iron. Barak and his troops obeyed and won. But how?
Judges 5 records the victory song of Deborah and Barak, recounting how the Lord gave victory: “the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water” (5:4, emphasis mine). Judges 5:21 tells us the cloudburst came, and “the river Kishon swept them away.” God sent a rainstorm, a swollen Kishon River, and muddy fields. Iron chariots became useless, leading to the full defeat of those forces and the victory of Israel’s troops.
Here’s another example: In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah’s forecast predicted no rain for years. More than three years later, the Lord commanded, “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land” (1 Kings 18:1). First Kings 18:41–45 records Elijah’s time in prayer and the downpour God sent. Seeking God in prayer makes a difference. As He did in Elijah’s day, God uses weather in communicating and fulfilling His will. This series of prayers and events was so significant that the Holy Spirit focused on it in the New Testament to encourage “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man” or woman (James 5:16–18, NKJV).
Different Back Then?
In Jesus’ life and ministry, He spoke of the Father giving sun and rain to the righteous and unrighteous (Matt. 5:45). On the Sea of Galilee He calmed a fierce storm as His disciples first cried out to Him in fear and then bowed in worship at His power (Luke 8:22–25).
Some might say, “That is the record of Scripture. It was different back then.” But consider some examples of God working in history since then.
Attempting to dethrone the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I of England, the Catholic King Philip II of Spain sent his “invincible armada” to England in 1588. Storms and winds first delayed them and ultimately a fierce storm and winds in the North Atlantic left the armada in ruins. That year several medals were cast to celebrate the defeat. One pictured a family on their knees, praying. It read, “Man proposes; God disposes.” The reverse side pictured a Spanish ship sinking and read, “The Spaniards flee and perish, no one pursuing.” God worked through prayer and the weather.1
More than 100 years later, Napoleon, while looking over the fields of Waterloo before his upcoming battle with Wellington, proudly declared that after this battle England would be at the feet of France and the Duke of Wellington would be his prisoner. His commanding officer reminded Napoleon of the truth that man proposes and God disposes. In his unwise pride, Napoleon responded, “Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes.” Victor Hugo summarized the situation this way: “From that moment Waterloo was lost, for God sent rain and hail so that the troops of Napoleon could not maneuver as he had planned, and on the night of the battle it was Napoleon who was prisoner of Wellington, and France who was at the feet of England.” God works through weather.2
Weather Events Change History
In his book And Then They Prayed, Barry Loudermilk recounts several events—including some weather events—that changed history and lives.3
In the fall of 1746, the French fleet sailed for New England with 13,000 troops to capture and destroy many coastal towns including Boston, MA. Governor William Shirley called for a day of prayer and fasting. The people met and prayed on October 16 in the Old South Church. Reverend Thomas Prince interceded before the Lord, “Deliver us. . . . Send Thy tempest, Lord, upon the waters to the eastward!”
As he prayed, dark clouds and strong winds moved into the city. Pounding rains struck the church building. The winds caused the church bell to ring with a wild, uneven sound. What could all this mean? A hurricane in the North Atlantic struck and sank or damaged most of the French fleet, leaving only about 1,000 soldiers. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow recounted these events in The Ballad of the French Fleet. God answered prayer and stopped disaster from striking many American towns.
Here’s another example: Today in Andersonville, GA, an engraved stone marker identifies Providence Springs, a spring of pure water that has been flowing since 1864. Loudermilk penned how this came about, a story of answered prayer.
The springs are on the grounds of a Civil War prison camp where more than 33,000 prisoners crowded into 26 acres with a muddy stream as their latrine and only water supply. One hundred prisoners died every day. Private William Tannahill organized a prayer meeting, and they began seeking God for rain and water.
After more than an hour of praying, a thunderstorm and driving rains struck the camp. The Stockade Creek flooded as the rainwaters washed out the disease-laden water. Then a thunderous bolt of lightning struck the ground inside the camp, and a spring of clear, clean water began bubbling up, providing all the water the camp needed and sparing hundreds of lives. That spring still flows today. It’s an answer to prayer and evidence that God works through weather.
Correction and Mercy
Can we really say God works through weather? Job 37:13 records three tracks on which God uses the weather: 1) for maintenance on earth (sun, rain, and so forth), 2) for a measure of correction (“the rod”), and 3) for mercy on earth.
God measured out correction and mercy in the spring of 2007, when we prayed for relief from the fires in Florida and Georgia. Fast forward to that fall, when 21 of the 50 states experienced drought, some extreme. Atlanta reported severe drought. Experts surmised there would be no drinking water for Atlanta within 90 days. Reservoirs began drying up. As each lake receded, boat docks and lake-front property were now several yards from the water’s edge. Calls to prayer surfaced from various sources.
Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed November 13 a Day of Prayer for Rain, despite a media frenzy labeling it a violation of separation of church and state. Mark Stirling, former consultant for prayer and spiritual awakening in the Georgia Baptist Convention, issued information to pastors throughout the Georgia Baptist churches. The convention website posted instructions on how to pray for rain. Governor Perdue prayed, as did others.
What happened? Many opined, but when all was said (or prayed) and done, the weather changed. God brought rain in answer to prayer. Many rejoiced. Records show December 2007 as one of the wettest Decembers in Atlanta’s history.
Chastening and Wake-Up Call
Many see unusual weather patterns as part of the remedial judgment of God mixed with His mercy and willingness to answer those who call on Him. Without question, our nation needs spiritual awakening. Too many are saying, “God, leave us alone and let us do what we want!” Many in churches seek to do “church life” without prayer.
Almost 3,000 years ago the Lord said, “When I shut up heaven so that there is no rain . . . if my people . . . humble themselves and pray . . . I will hear . . . I will forgive . . . and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:13–14). Remember that 7:14 praying is based on 7:13 chastening. God is ever at work, ready to restore. Are we cooperating?
Is the weather an intensifying wake-up call? Think about it. Since 2007, we have seen an increase in weather issues in the United States. For the record, 2008 saw nine separate billion-dollar natural disasters, and the number of such events exceeded 150. In 2009, we had more than 200 events. Then, 2010 broke all records with 247 events. Both years saw ten billion-dollar disasters (each cost a minimum of a billion dollars; some had a two- or three-billion-dollar price tag). In 2011, the disastrous October snowstorm in the Northeast shattered every weather record, with costs estimated at more than three billion. The total for 2011 was 14 billion-dollar disasters with a total cost (at a minimum) of more than 50 billion dollars. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy alone cost more than 50 billion.
Many are wondering—and others are debating—what is going on. The August 11, 2012 issue of World magazine carried the cover article “Praying for Rain: The widest drought in over half a century blankets more than half the nation.” Many others have added their thoughts, opinions, articles, and blogs.
To these testimonies, I must add one more note. Erwin Lutzer, in his book Where Was God?, wrote that while God is sovereign and works through weather, we cannot understand all His ways. We must certainly show compassion for those who have been involved in weather calamities.4
Symbolic of Our Need
With that, we can attest that the weather issues (droughts, fires, floods, tornados, blizzards, hurricanes) of the past six years are signals and symbols of the needs of the churches in America. Many are experiencing spiritual drought and need the refreshing rains of the Spirit of God. We need to intensify praying together for the physical, material, and especially the spiritual needs we see all around us. Any need is a call to pray. And praying together is a much-needed ministry that often brings deeply longed-for answers and blessings.
God is at work on many levels. Many are turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior while many others are intensifying their rebellion against God. The bottom line for today is this: We should not only rehearse the facts of the past but move beyond them to the insight God is giving. Let’s be fascinated with who God is and with what He is doing. Then, we need to join Him in active faith, praying alone and together (Jer. 29:7, 33:3; Eph. 6:17–19; 1 Tim. 2:1–8).
God is working. We should trust Him, rain or shine.
1W.H.K. Wright, ed. The Western Antiquary. Vol. 7. Plymouth: W.H. Luke, Printer, 1888, 289. www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spanish-armada-defeated.
2 Alan Carr, “The Gospel According to Nebuchadnezzar,” www.sermonnotebook.org/old testament/Daniel 204_34-37(2).htm.
3Barry Loudermilk, And Then They Prayed (Campbell, Cal.: Fast Pencil, 2011), ebook.
4Erwin Lutzer, Where Was God? Answers to Tough Questions about God and Natural Disasters (Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale, 2006).
RICK SHEPHERD is team strategist for the Prayer/Spiritual Awakening team, Florida Baptist Convention. For a download of the booklet Praying about the Weather, go to flbaptist.org/prayer/prayerresources.aspx.
