"Too Dry"

They talked about how dry it was,

And all the old hands said,

That decades had gone by they thought,

Since the grass had turned this dead.

They had to sell their cattle,

‘Cause there was just no feed,

And the highway to the stockyard,

Showed everybody’s need.

And on Sunday at the church house,

The people stopped to pray,

They asked the Lord to send the rain,

That’s all that they could say.

And when the prayer got answered,

The fifteen drops that fell,

Never settled down the dust,

And still as hot as – well,

They kept right on a-prayin’,

They paid the preacher more,

And when the thunder rumbled,

They were thankful to the core.

But the rainstorm blew right past ‘em,

They never got a bit,

And people got to thinkin’,

That maybe sin was it.

But then there in the Good Book,

It said it clear and plain,

That even for the sinners,

God will send the rain.

So what to do about it,

But hope and pray and wait,

And then they started praising God,

Because He’s never late.

They praised Him for the good things,

That He had blessed ‘em with,

They gave thanks for the little things,

And every single gift.

They praised Him for the sunshine,

For health and for their kin,

They thanked Him for our nation,

For freedoms from back when.

And when it rained they praised Him,

The weather finally turned,

And some of those who questioned,

Found out because they learned,

That faith is more than praying,

Though that’s what we should do,

But praising while you’re waiting,

Creates a real break-through.

Too hot, too cold, too wet or dry,

Too sad or just too hard,

Too broke, too lost, and too far gone,

It’s just the time, old pard,

To get to praisin’ Jesus,

‘Cause that’s the way to go,

And you’ll find out He’ll help you,

An awesome thing to know.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)

Giving thanks in all circumstances seems like just one more thing that we are supposed to do as Christians but just can’t get it done. Why? Because of the circumstances! People feel like a life of habitual praise must be for those who have it easier than them. But this is simply not true. The habit of praising God in every circumstance is made possible by the Holy Spirit’s power. That’s it. When we are filled with the Spirit, He energizes us to live thankfully and not be overwhelmed by our adversity. God knows and He will help us.

Lord, teach us to praise You in all circumstances, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.