Forecast: A Little Cloudy

 

And he said to his servant,

"Go up now,

      look toward the sea."

And he went up and looked

and said, "There is nothing."

And he said, "Go again,"

                seven times.

And at the seventh time he said,

"Behold, a little cloud

like a man's hand

        is rising from the sea."

                1 Kings 18. 43-44

(Perseverance in prayer

does not change God

              or the outcome,

but in the process,

   through the act of praying,

           God changes us.

We see differently

We respond differently.

We learn to trust Him more.

If we didn't pray,

would we even see

            that little cloud

    of God's redeeming?)

O LORD,

You grant to us

    little clouds of hope

    and encouragement,

even in the midst of drought,

even seven times

            or seventy,

    before we see anything.

Please help us

   to keep our eyes on You

in abundance or in need,

clear skies or dark clouds,

knowing that

        You are with us.

May we not look for an answer,

      but seek You.

Even in this,

even in what we don't understand,

   You give us Your strength

   to endure.

Enlarge our vision

              and our hearts

that we may serve You,

as a witness to others

    and a delight to You today.

May others wonder

  at Your joy and hope in us.