Observation: The drought is over and it has begun to rain. the rain promised by God when God spoke to God's prophet.
Application: There is a story about a pastor who lived in farm country. There was a drought for long time. The church and the community decided that they needed to gather and pray for rain. The day and the time was set for the prayer meeting, a mixture of hope and despair. That night, the farmers, the townspeople, the community all gathered into the tiny church.
The pastor moved into the pulpit and looked around the faces of her community; faces looking for something...anything. The pastor began to speak and what she spoke she spoke briefly.
She said: "I am grateful for everyone gathering during this time of struggle for our community. I am glad that you all know that this struggle is real. I am grateful that we have come to lay our trust to God to answer us in this time of prayer to pray for what it is that we need most; RAIN!"
Several people yelled 'AMEN!'
The pastor continued: "But I am concerned about one important detail I think we have forgetter. We all came to pray for rain but not one person here tonight brought an umbrella. What did you expect to happen?"
The pastor sat down and the people gathered began to pray.
Do we really trust that God will fulfill what God promises?
Prayer: Lord, help us to trust the promise you have given us, time and time again.