Sat outside today watching the birds and the squirrels, perched in the swing, listening to the world waking up from its peaceful slumber. Father Sky has sketched a beautiful morning, deep blue sky filled with golden sunshine and fluffy white clouds. At dusk, Mother Nature stroked her paint brushes across the tree line and shaded the horizon a beautiful golden hue. The sky was filled with rolls of purple and blue and gray rain clouds breaking apart occasionally, letting the sun kiss their edges a hot pink. So pretty!

I was thinking of how beautiful the day has been here where I live, when in comparison to the Gulf Coast of Florida and the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, ravaged by the raging flood waters of Hurricane Helene. How do you explain a life altering situation with death and destruction when we’re taught that God loves us and is always close and faithful. Are hurricanes an act of nature or a wake up call that God is disappointed in his children and their actions? I don’t know, but I’m continuing to pray for those who are displaced and grieving for loves ones.

I know from experience the trials we go through in life can draw us closer to God and strengthen our faith. Sometime we question why it happens to us but as time travels the rainbows of hope help us weather the storm and walk back into the light of God’s love. Scripture in Psalms says God has compassion like a father for his children and is faithful to us when times are troubling. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Prayer is such a powerful tool when it’s genuine. Consistent prayer with faith can move a mountain. Praying is just a conversation with God. We can all pray. Our prayer can be serious with tears or it can be just a simple happy “thank you for a beautiful day, God.” Our prayer requests can be straightforward or complex. Some of us pray out loud when we’re thanking God, others pray silently and solemnly when worried or afraid. Some of us may even pray in a group but God is always listening not matter how loudly or how quietly we talk with him. “Gods’ silence is not God’s absence, so keep going,” Gugulethu Nclovu. God will always answer our prayers.

Philippians 4:6-7 reads, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace.” You want peace in your life? Give everything to God in prayer, thank him each day for your blessings, ask for help with things that burden your life. Nothing is too small or too trivial to take to God in prayer. Be grateful to God everyday and God will bring a sense of peace into your life.

“If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is ‘thank you’ that would suffice.” — Meister Eckhart