Prayer in Time of Drought

O Lord, our God, who art merciful, and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, help us in this great distress, in which we draw near to Thee and pray for Thy mercy. Help us in this great trouble which has come upon us. Help us, and deliver us in mercy. In ancient days Thou didst threaten Thy people, that, if they did not obey Thy voice and observe Thy commandments and statutes, Thou wouldest make the heaven over their head to be brass, and the earth beneath them to be iron, and the rain of the land powder and dust; and that thus Thou wouldest punish them till they were destroyed.

This just and terrible threat Thou now beginnest to fulfill in us. Thou hast for some time past visited us with a continuous heat and drought which are consuming everything. Thou hast for a long time actually locked the heavens against us, and bidden the clouds to forsake us, or at least refuse to give us rain. It seems, indeed, as if the heaven above us were become brass, and the earth beneath us iron. O how pitiable and desolate it looks everywhere, in our fields and meadows, on the hills and in the valleys, in the orchards and the vineyards! The earth opens its mouth and sighs to be refreshed. Men and beasts pant from the great heat. The trees are dying, the grass is withering, the fruit cannot grow nor ripen. The cattle want for food, and our rivers, brooks and wells threaten to dry up and to leave us without water. And what dreadful consequences may not ensue! O Lord, Lord, look down upon us in mercy, and bring our distress to an end.

We must indeed confess before Thy holy presence, that we have richly deserved to be thus punished on account of our constant disobedience to Thy commandments, our shameful ingratitude for Thy many benefits, and our great abuse of the mercies which Thou hast bestowed upon us. Yes, we must confess, that Thou wouldest not deal unjustly if, on account of our manifold iniquities, Thou shouldest inflict far severer punishments upon us. But, O Father of Mercies, we fall prostrate and humble at Thy feet, and pray Thee, forgive us our great sins, and regard us again with favor. Have mercy upon us, and remove this heavy plague from us. It is Thou that doest good unto us men. It is Thou that givest us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and fillest our hearts with food and gladness. Thou waterest the hills from Thy chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. Thou causest the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that Thou mayest bring forth food out of the earth.

All eyes wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. O remember us now for Thy name’s sake, and refresh us with a vivifying and penetrating rain.

O Thou almighty Creator and Preserver of all things! Open the windows of heaven, and visit again the land which pants for Thy goodness. Water it, that the fruits in field and orchard and vineyard may mature, that the grain in the fields may grow, that the grass in the meadows may spring up, and that men and beasts everywhere may find nourishment and sustenance once more. And although, O God, we have hitherto been disobedient children, we are yet, through Christ, children who are reconciled to Thee. Therefore we humbly cry to Thee in His name, and pray that Thou wouldest hear our sighing and supplication in this our urgent need and continued distress, and wouldest gladden every living thing with water from above.

Protect our land also and our dwelling from contagious diseases, from fire, from famine, and other well-deserved punishments. Let the punishment which we have now experienced serve to make us better, and cause us to turn to Thee with all our heart. To this end grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that He may make entirely new creatures of us, who shall walk faithfully in Thy ways, and keep Thy commandments. Sanctify us wholly through Him, that our whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now, O Lord, our God, we hope in Thy mercy. Let us live to spread abroad Thy praise. Hear our prayer, and we will be heartily thankful for Thy grace. We will magnify Thy glorious name as long as we live here in this world, and magnify it forever in the world to come. Hear us, dear Father in heaven; for Thou art our God. Hear us in Thy immeasurable faithfulness, O Thou who hast promised to be our Help and Stay in every trouble! Hear us for Thine own sake. Amen.