Scripture Reading:
2 KINGS 5:1–14
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
ISAIAH 11:6
KATHY HESTER HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO the mountain campout on Labor Day weekend, but her hectic schedule had her frazzled the morning of the trip. She said to her husband, “I keep reminding myself this is supposed to be fun.”
Jason nodded. “Sometimes it’s all what we make of things.”
In less than a minute Kathy could hear him singing and encouraging the children to get their things packed. Why is he so happy? she thought.
An hour later they were on the road and Jason tried to lighten her mood. “Looks like great weather.”
Kathy felt tears stinging her eyes. “Inside my heart there’s nothing but storm clouds. All I want to do is ask God to help me see the sunshine again.”
“Well”—Jason grinned—“then ask him.”
“No.” Kathy stared out the window. “He isn’t concerned about my vacation.”
Four hours later they pulled into their campsite high up in the White Mountains of central Arizona. The kids and Jason chattered merrily, but the sky had clouded up. It was five o’clock before the camp was set up.
“How ’bout a little fishing?” Jason suggested, followed by hoots of approval from the three children.
“Sure.” Kathy forced a smile.
The evening was pleasant, filled with laughter and easy conversation. But by the time they got back to camp, the sky was ominous-looking. An hour later lightning flashed angrily across the sky, thunder cracked, and rain poured onto their camp.
“Jason,” Kathy whispered. “We need to find some shelter.”
Jason rolled over on his cot. “Honey, the tent’s waterproof. Everything’ll be fine.”
“We can’t stay under the trees with the lightning.”
“Kathy, storms roll through here nearly every night in the summer. Get some sleep.”
She peered anxiously through the flap. Just then five-year-old Megan’s head peeked up from her sleeping bag. “Mommy, if you’re afraid, why don’t you pray?”
Kathy reached out and patted Megan’s blonde hair. “Yes, honey, that’s a good idea.” In truth, she thought it was too small a matter to bother God about.
In the morning, the rain had stopped but the sky was gloomy gray, darkening even Jason’s mood as they began preparing breakfast on the wet picnic table. After breakfast the Hesters headed for a nearby stream. As they fished the thunder and lightning returned and rain fell harder than before. Heading back to the camp, a ranger told them, “We’re in for steady rain all day.”
“Fun vacation,” Kathy mumbled.
The rain fell for three hours while they stayed in the tent playing games and trying to stay warm. Finally, Jason stuck his hand outside the tent. “The rain’s let up a little. Let’s get a fire started so we can dry out.”
Jason and Kathy worked feverishly trying to ignite the damp wood with newspaper. But after an hour, the couple had created only a great deal of smoke and even more frustration. They even tried holding an umbrella over the wood. Another hour of futile attempts passed.
During that time, Megan and their seven-year-old son, Luke, slipped out of the tent and began watching.
“Without a fire, we can forget dinner,” Kathy said.
Luke and Megan glanced at each other and then Luke motioned for her to follow him.
“Where are you going?” Kathy asked.
“We have to do something,” Luke said. “We’ll be right back.”
Kathy nodded. “All right. Don’t go too far.”
“We won’t.” Megan smiled. Five minutes later they returned and sat nearby, grinning and glancing upward.
At about that time, the rain stopped. Not long afterward, the fire pit was blazing and the Hesters gathered around to dry out. Suddenly Kathy remembered the children’s brief disappearance.
“Megan, why did you go off into the woods?”
The girl smiled sweetly. “Well, we didn’t want to starve. Luke said we should ask God to stop the rain.”
A sinking feeling settled over Kathy’s stomach. It had happened again. Two adults, both strong in their faith in God and the power of prayer, who’d done everything except pray—the one thing their young children had chosen to do.
“He heard us, Mommy,” Megan said matter-of-factly. “You and Daddy always say if you have a problem, take it to God in prayer. Right?”
Kathy thought of her gloomy mood and how she’d considered her problems too insignificant for God. “It sure is, Megan. Thanks for helping me remember.”
Despite the gray sky, no rain fell on the campsite until after nine o’clock that evening. The rain continued through the night and let up only long enough for them to pack their camping gear for the trip back home. On the way out, they asked the ranger about the rain.
“Never let up all day yesterday,” the ranger said.
Kathy glanced at Jason. “We had about five hours without rain in the early evening.”
The ranger scratched his head. “Why, that’s the craziest thing. I was only a few hundred yards away and I didn’t get a bit of relief all evening.”
As they drove away, Kathy told Jason about Megan and Luke’s prayer that the rain would stop. Jason laughed. “See… no prayer is too small for God.”
“I guess you’re right.” Kathy grinned. God did indeed care about the small details after all.
Pray continually.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:17