November 30
The Farmer's
Dilemma
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:17-18 (NIrV)
It had been weeks since the last drop of rain, and Jack, a seasoned farmer, couldn’t remember the last time he had seen the earth this dry. His crops were beginning to wither, the soil cracked beneath his boots as he walked the fields. The once green rows of corn and wheat now stood as dry stalks in the barren land. Every morning, Jack knelt by the small prayer bench in his barn, lifting up his hands and asking God for rain. He needed the rain to come, and he needed it now. The harvest was everything to him—his livelihood, his family’s future, his hope.
On the other side of town, another prayer was being whispered into the air. Emily and Mark had planned their wedding for months. The flowers were ready, the reception hall was decorated, the guests were coming, and everything seemed perfect. But as the wedding day drew near, the forecast was predicting rain. Emily could feel the nervous energy building as the clouds loomed in the sky. She whispered a prayer of her own, “God, please, no rain today. I need sunshine for our wedding day. Please let it be beautiful.”
Both prayers seemed urgent. Both were from hearts in need, both were from people who felt desperate for the outcome they were hoping for. Jack needed rain for his crops, and Emily needed sunshine for her wedding. How could God answer both prayers?
The day before the wedding, a heavy cloud cover moved in, and the weather forecast predicted showers. Jack, standing on his porch, looked out at the sky, praying with all his heart, “Lord, send rain. My crops are dying, and I need Your provision.”
Meanwhile, Emily and Mark were preparing for the big day. The storm clouds above made her heart race. The thought of her perfect day being ruined by rain sent waves of anxiety through her. As she dressed, she said quietly, “Lord, please. Just let us have a beautiful, sunny day tomorrow. Please, don’t let it rain on our wedding day.”
The prayers went up, one for rain, one for sunshine.
The next morning, the sky remained heavy and dark as the wedding ceremony started. Emily held her breath, praying one last time for clear skies. Yet, as the ceremony began, the first drop of rain fell.
It wasn’t a heavy storm, but it was enough to dampen the outdoor wedding. Emily looked at Mark, disappointment flashing across her face, but she knew there was no changing the weather now. Meanwhile, Jack’s farm was getting the rain he’d been praying for. The dry earth began to soften, and the plants began to drink in the water they so desperately needed.
Both prayers had been heard, but the answers were different. How could God do this? How could He let both of them pray for things that couldn’t both happen?
Later that evening, Emily and Mark sat together on a bench at the reception hall, watching the rain fall outside. Emily whispered, “I was hoping for sunshine, but I guess the rain is still a blessing. It means new life for someone else. Maybe I just need to trust that it’s all in God’s plan.”
Jack, too, was reflecting on his day in the fields. As the rain soaked into the ground, he realized how much he had taken for granted. He had been so focused on the crops that he had forgotten to consider the bigger picture—that God is not just in the small parts of our lives but in the grander design of everything.
God knew what each moment needed—what each person needed. He didn’t just answer the prayer for rain, or the prayer for sunshine. He answered both, but in ways that were more than what they had expected. The rain would bring life to Jack’s farm, and the rain on Emily’s wedding day would wash away the unnecessary pressures, reminding her to cherish the moment and trust in God’s timing.
As Jack knelt that evening, he realized he didn’t have all the answers. But he knew that God’s plan was far greater than anything he could understand.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I come before You with a heart that often longs for answers in my own time and in my own way.
Today, I was reminded that Your ways are higher than my ways. You see the bigger picture, and You know what I truly need.
Help me to trust You, even when my prayers are not answered as I expect.
Teach me to have patience and faith in Your plan, knowing that You are always working for my good, even when I don’t understand.
Thank You for Your love and for the assurance that You hear every prayer, no matter how big or small.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
