Hurricane prayers

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:15-18

Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17).

AS powerful Hurricane Irma approached the state of Florida in the US in 2017, nearly seventy-five children gathered in Munyonyo, Uganda, to pray for those in the storm’s projected path. Many of those trapped in Florida were greatly encouraged to see by video the boys and girls praying and asking God to calm the storm.

Though Irma did cause widespread damage, the overall destruction was significantly less than expected. Via letters, prayer, and social media feeds, the Ugandan children and their friends in Florida jointly gave thanks to the Lord for His care.

Through their exchange, these two people groups — one in Africa, the other in the US — illustrated the truths found in 2 Corinthians 4, that, “as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory” (2 Corinthians 4:15).

As the two groups faced the storm together, their faith in God and His purposes was strengthened. And as they encouraged each other to “fix their gaze” not on their present seen troubles but “on things that cannot be seen” (for example, God and His loving ways), they found in Him a shelter for their hearts (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Finally, these groups of fellow believers reminded each other to “never give up.” As Paul confessed, they believed that even “though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

Rather than allowing the storms of life to overwhelm us, may we cling to God and rest in His power to sustain us.