Conversations about the weather
If you don’t like the weather around here, just wait a few minutes. Too hot, too cold, too dry, too…. Well not very often it is too wet. How many conversations are about the weather, especially involving a farmer? From my perspective, it could be because our livelihood depends on it. Or quite possibly… just a great opportunity to complain about something.
A few weeks ago, if you recall, we had a situation where the weather turned from too dry to… really wet. It just so happened that it was right in the middle of corn planting. But without the rain the corn was not going to grow, and it did look like another drought on its way. Prayers for rain were quite frequent, I’m sure. As you are quite aware, these prayers were answered, and rains began to fall. For that we give thanks to the Lord, for providing in times of need…
Rain makes grain
Boy did the Lord ever provide. Have you heard the term, “rain makes grain?” Kind of a timeless adage of old. But of course, we all know that the rains need to keep falling occasionally, and when they do…it makes farmers look like they know what they are doing.
Thus, the perception becomes, the more rain that falls… the more corn evolves… renewed hope for a bountiful harvest to come. There is a little more to it than that, but… for the most part, this is true.
Not for everyone though. With each rain there is a chance of severe storms. Many farmers received hail that destroyed their crops. Other areas received torrential rains that flooded fields like we hear about northeast of here. Like these rains, and the ones that prevented us from planting, does not render to the mindset of more grain… Too much, too little, at the wrong time… yet remembering how quickly it can all dry up, we dare to say “rain, rain, go away, come again another day.”
Farmers lament
There you have it, another farmer’s lament… crying a river over things that do not affect a vast majority of the population… yet, in comparison to the many difficulties we see in the world today, these are the isolated challenges that are experienced when you pray for rain and might get hail instead. I’m sure you have your own story to tell about when you prayed for something and didn’t get what you asked for.
Does God hear my prayer?
Today we are going to talk about these times when you dare to say… “Does God hear my prayer?”
We hear this plea echoing in the Old Testament and Gospel lesson today. First let’s look at Lamentations. Here we find at the beginning of chapter three, Jeremiah’s lament.
He has seen the destruction of God’s temple and city. He has seen the invasion of the Babylonians which caused the dismemberment of God’s people into scattered exiles. He has lost hope. He felt as if God was not listening to him. Jeremiah was experiencing hail when he prayed for rain. He has not found an answer for his plea for help, he feels he has been cast into darkness and despair. The weeping prophet is wondering “Lord, why do you not hear me?”
Can you relate? I have had times when it seems as if my prayers are not being heard. I then analyze what I know as a believer in Christ… I know He is always there… I also know He doesn’t give me more than I can handle… And I also know that all things will work together for the good for those that love Him… Yet, I must admit that I am not as patient as I ought to be … like my lament I mentioned earlier, in my weak moments, I dare to say, “God do you hear my prayer?”
Jairus & the unclean woman
Now, let’s look at the situation in the lives of two people in the Gospel of Mark 5. The first is Jairus who was a religious man. A synagogue ruler in fact, and very prominent in his community. His daughter was very ill and dying… As any of us would do, through the desperate love for a daughter, he sought help from Jesus.
Then we have the woman who was rendered ritually unclean by a menstrual cycle that would not end. For twelve years she suffered a great deal from this and physicians could not seem to help her. She was treated as an outcast and required to remain isolated until this ended.
Now the natives of Galilee knew Jesus was traveling back across the sea and many of them gathered by the shore to greet Him. Jairus and this woman were thus amongst the crowd that pushed in closer when Jesus and His disciples got out of the boat.
I can’t imagine how chaotic that was with so many people trying to get His attention all at the same time. Those seeking help, or possibly just wanting to see or ask Him something. Regardless, we are told that the people crowded around Him. Amongst all this commotion, we learn that Jesus listens for pleas. Jairus and this woman were calling out… “hear me, Lord.”
Mom, listen to me!
Like a toddler who runs up to his mother and tugs at her shirt. Mom, mom, mom…. Just wait honey I’m busy. Mom, mom, mom, the plea continues. Not now, dear, just wait… The toddler’s plea demanded immediate attention. That might have been what Jesus was experiencing by the shore when there could have been so many people calling out to Him.
These two people Mark choses to write about get Jesus’ immediate attention. But Mark shares these accounts by making an important point… The woman who in her current state of uncleanliness was as far outside the synagogue as you could get. Jairus like I mentioned earlier, was a leader at the top of the religious establishment… Two people on both ends of the spectrum… and They both need and get the same Jesus.
God’s time, not mine
Through this pericope Jesus’ message is that no matter who you are… no matter what kind of supplication… social status, young or old… no matter what is happening in your life… we are all valuable in Jesus’ eyes and our prayers will be heard. Yes, our loving God hears our requests, but like this toddler demanding attention from his loving mother, it will have to wait for His time, not ours.
The Lamentations writer knows this kind of Love. He writes in our text today, “The love of the Lord never ceases…”, and then again in verse 25, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him…”. This is our Lord’s promise. He knows what is best for us and will not leave us without hope. He will always be there listening. Yes, He might let us wrestle in our times of lament, but He also has concern for us, as he says in verse 32, “though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”
Despite our sinful ways, when we call to Him, God will give us His grace in ways we might not know or understand. The flooding or hailstorms we experience at times might just be there to make us open our eyes enough so we can see that grace more clearly. Just being a Christian doesn’t mean we will get what we pray for. However, being a believer gives you and I the assurance that Christ will provide. In HIS perfect timing.
Joy in the breaking
I was directed to a Facebook post recently written about a woman who happened to have something weighing on her heart. As she was cooking cornbread, she cracked two eggs. It suddenly hit her that those eggs did not fulfill their purpose until broken. She then found joy in the breaking.
If you are broken and praying about something heavy on your mind… do not to lose heart… it just may God’s will or purpose to make you wait, once again, for His timing.
Neither the woman or the man that Jesus helped knew it at that time, but later they both found joy in the breaking when they realized they needed Jesus and turned to Him. Jesus then told Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” He challenged Jairus to stop fearing and keep believing in Him, even when it seemed impossible.
Jesus turned to the woman and said “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace.” Jesus expanded her faith by not just healing her physically, but by connecting with her in relational terms, providing wholeness to her healing, and addressing her heartfelt need. Creating a relationship with her as His child.
These are our experiences
These Bible stories of the work of God are timeless when speaking about the lives of people just like you and me. From the struggles of Jeremiah… the fear of sickness and death by Jairus… to a desperate woman seeking relief.
These things we can relate… our experiences… whether it is suffering, struggles, or just needing a rain… the breaking. The times we are tugging at Jesus garment with our requests… the times you might be praying for rain and get hail instead. The times you might not think He is listening… But He is and the joy will come in ways that only God knows.
God is listening
That brings us back to my previous lament. Even though I might be praying for rain… the neighbor could be praying for it to dry up. Others might be praying for heat, cold, or many other conflicting situations. The point being, Jesus was in a crowd of many people… He knows everyone’s needs and wants. He knows when to say yes and when to say no and when to say just wait. Mark didn’t write about any of these stories from the crowd.
We are told, however, about Jesus’ perfect timing as He reached out to both Jairus and the woman when He answered their prayer. He also reached out to Jeremiah in his despair. Even though there were many in the crowd that day, we must keep in mind, that He hears all our prayers. You see, God loves us, hears us, and seeks us out when we might not even know.
Think about this… You are just one of like seven billion people in this crowd here on earth… and He hears your prayer when you ask for the showers of His mercy… He sees your wants and needs when you think you are just blending in with the crowd. Jesus knows when you are calling to Him… And when you feel like that toddler failing to get his mother’s attention… Jesus is listening just as sure as that mother was.
Trust in Jesus
Jesus is good to those who wait for His timing and put their trust in Him. The Lord is good to those who humble themselves before Him….
To those that know to turn to Him in times of need. God has a plan in place. He sent His son to the cross with a plan in place. For the forgiveness of our sins and a promise of everlasting life with Him. For you and for me.
That is the reality found in the joy of His suffering and death… the prize that compelled Him to endure all the suffering in which He experienced on the way to the cross. That is how valuable we are to Him. How significant we are when calling out to Him in prayer. My friends, how delighted Jesus is to call you, “His Child.”
The rain that makes grain
Remember this when you leave this place and venture back into the mission field. When you have your next lament, even if it is just about the weather… Jesus is there… He cares… He is listening… His strength will become yours. His courage will flow from you. His love will hold you together when everything else seems to be falling apart. On that cross, He died so you could live…. Hold fast to this promise… when we join with Christ in His sufferings, we will also join with Him in His resurrection.
That is the rain that will make grain in this life with a bountiful harvest to come. Then when our waiting is over, our cries will turn to rejoicing, and all our laments will be His for life everlasting.
Amen
