PRAYING FOR THE WEATHER

PRAYING FOR THE WEATHER
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 by RUTH WUWONG

As a Christian, have you ever prayed for the weather?

In my next book, Way of Disappearance (cozy mystery, to be released in 3/2024), the characters prayed for thick fog to help them escape a dire situation. God granted their plea. Under the cover of the mist, they returned to safety.

Is it possible in real life? While my husband (a retired pastor) and I served at three churches, we encountered quite a few occasions when we prayed for the weather, and God graciously granted our requests. One of the most memorable experiences occurred during a mission trip to Burkina Faso in 2015.

Most people probably don’t know much about this land-locked country in West Africa. It shares borders with Mali to the north and west, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. The capital city of Burkina Faso is Ouagadougou. The official language is French, although there are several other local languages spoken by different ethnic groups. The majority of people in Burkina Faso practice Islam, followed by Christianity and indigenous religions.

Because of no natural resources, the country remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is predominantly based on agriculture, which relies on the rainy season from May to September, with the highest amounts falling in July and August. The rainfall is essential to people’s survival, as it allows for the cultivation of crops and the replenishment of water sources.

When we (a team of six) arrived in early July in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city located in the southwestern part of the country, it hadn’t had any rain for over ten days. Every day, all the Islamic mosques broadcasted prayers for rain. On the first Sunday after our arrival, Pastor Ken (my husband) preached in a small church. Afterward, an elder invited the whole group to his home across the street from the church. Then, he asked Pastor Ken to pray for rain on their behalf. My husband did as requested. After our loud amen, I jerked up my gaze toward the clear sky and blurted out, “It’ll definitely rain tonight.”

Now, most of my friends know that I’m a PhD scientist and very logical. Plus, being a pastor’s wife for so many years, I’m usually careful in what I say. For me, to utter those words in front of a large group of people was beyond odd. Pastor Ken glared at me as if asking, “What will you do if it doesn’t rain?” I turned away my head to avoid eye contact with him.

That night, the rain poured down as if the heavens themselves had unveiled their mighty floodgates. In the subsequent days, it rained hard every day except when we needed to move from one location to another.

For sure, we should never “put God on the spot.” At the same time, we may be so fearful of “putting God on the spot” that we shy away from seeking God’s grace and mercy in a dire situation. Be bold. Pray. God always answers our prayers, although sometimes His answer may not be “yes” to your wish. Remember, a no or wait answer is still an answer.

ABOUT RUTH WUWONG

Dr. Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books (Love at the Garden Tomb, The Way We Forgive, Blazing China, and Detour to Agape, under R. F. Whong). She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.

She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.

In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

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