Several years ago a close friend planted his very first garden. He was about to be married and had moved into their 
new home early to get things ready. He was so proud of his garden that he worked in it with every free moment. Everyone who stopped by was expected to tour his “masterpiece.” Unfortunately, about midsummer the rain stopped, and the community was placed on drought precautions. Every night he would call me heartbroken, questioning if I was praying hard enough for rain. Some nights he insisted that I pray over the phone so he could hear. He even started a special prayer group at church praying for rain.
The drought continued, and his wedding quickly approached. Never once did he quit praying for rain. He even asked me to pray for rain during the wedding rehearsal. The next day appeared to have been specially created for the outdoor wedding they had planned. Everything was perfect…until lightning flashed across the sky. Without any warning the bottom fell out of the clouds and a massive downpour began. Fortunately we were able to move the wedding to our church across the street.As the groom and I swam to the church all he could do was complain about the rain.
How many times do we pray without faith? It seems that we don‘t always expect our prayers to be answered even though Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given unto you…(Matthew 7:7).” Even if we pray for rain we‘ll wait for the meteorologist to call for it before we carry an umbrella. And when our prayers are answered we just seem to complain that things didn‘t turn out like we wanted or expected. Jesus continues saying in Matthew 7, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”Many times the specifics of our prayers may not be in the best interest of ourselves or in God‘s plan, but God‘s answers and timetables always are.
When you pray…pray as one who KNOWS CHRIST and expects to receive. If you ask for rain then carry and umbrella. You may get exactly that for which you pray, and in the process you will MAKE CHRIST KNOWN. As it turned out, neither the bride nor the groom ever wanted an outdoor wedding. They both only believed that the other did. What a beautiful wedding gift God gave to them, the wedding they both really wanted. One thing is true; don‘t pray for the rain if you intend to complain about the mud!
the SOCKLESS prophet 