Prayer during Unceasing Rain

O God, glorious in power and majesty, who hast spread out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and who hast created every thing that lives and moves and has being! We see with our eyes that Thou dost rule all things, and doest whatsoever Thou pleasest. How quickly Thou canst change the appearance of the earth! How quickly Thou canst deprive it of its beauty and grace! How quickly Thou canst take from us the gifts and blessings which Thou hast but recently vouchsafed to us! We realize this truth keenly at the present time; for Thou hast opened the windows of heaven, and lettest the rain fall unceasingly.

Sadness and gloom and desolation prevail everywhere. The sun withholds its warming and quickening rays; the eye beholds nothing hut dark and heavy clouds; and the heart is depressed. The earth is covered with water; the grass and the grain are almost rotting; the streams are swollen and threaten to overflow; the roads are becoming impassable and traffic most difficult. And who can tell what other perils threaten us in this distress which has come upon us?

O Lord, Lord, look with compassion upon our misery, and have mercy upon us. Thou revealest plainly that Thou art angry with us. And we acknowledge that we have excited Thine anger by our sins, our disobedience, our unfaithfulness, our obstinacy. Yes, yes, we have sinned, sinned greatly, and come short of the glory of God. We have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight, and are no more worthy to be called Thy children. We have deserved, richly deserved, that Thou shouldest withdraw Thy favor from us, and let us feel Thy displeasure. Therefore we acknowledge our sin, and hide not our iniquity. We humble ourselves before Thee in true repentance, and pray Thee for mercy and grace. O have mercy upon us again, now that Thou hast smitten and afflicted us. Remember us and bless us. Remember that we are but dust and ashes. Remember the perfect atonement of Jesus, and for His sake let us find mercy.

Thou hast promised, that, as long as the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Thou hast promised that Thou wilt satisfy the desire of every living thing. Thou hast given the blessed promise that Thou wilt never again destroy mankind with a flood. O remember Thy promises now. O fulfill them in us, Thou God of all grace and truth. Close the windows of heaven, and command the rain to cease. Chase away the dreary clouds in the sky, and let us behold the glad sunshine once more. Dry and warm the wet earth. Give to the grass and to every growing plant new life. Freshen all the fruits of the field and the orchard, and let them mature, that, in due season, we may gather with joy the needful supply of grain and wine and oil, and of everything that is necessary for our support.

Grant us in the future such weather as will cause the crops to thrive. Preserve us from hail and tempest. Give us the early and latter rains in their seasons. And when Thou hast watered the earth, let the sun shine forth and quicken it, that grass may grow for the cattle, and grain for man. But grant also that we may then receive with thanksgiving the gifts which Thou dost so wonderfully preserve and so graciously bestow; and that we may never forget the great things which Thou hast done for us. Soften our hard hearts by the goodness and faithfulness which Thou dost manifest, so that we may honestly strive to better our lives, avoid all willful sin, follow goodness and virtue, and walk as in Thy sight until our end. And then at last, in Thy mercy and faithfulness, receive us into Thy eternal heavenly kingdom. There will we give Thee more perfect praise for all Thy mercies than our weakness here permits us to give. There we will give Thee eternal praise and thanks. Amen.