“God Was In The Fog” by Reva Lachica Moore
(Written in 2004)
Last week my husband JR and I went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico and when the cruise ship docked in Galveston on Friday morning, I called my son Cliff right away. Though he was glad to hear from me, he sounded worried as if something was terribly wrong.
“Mom, I’m glad you’re back. Will you please stay there in Galveston for the weekend? I have a Car Show in LaMarque, which is 15 miles from Galveston on Sunday morning and you and J.R. can help me. I need cashiers.”
“Sure, we’ll stay. We’ll find a motel but when are you going to be here?”
“I’ll be there on Saturday night but Mom, they’re predicting 70% rain! For two whole months there was no rain and why now? I have worked so hard for this event and spent double than usual.” Cliff was quite upset.
“I’m so sorry to hear that but we can still pray. You talk to God and I’ll do the same, and I’ll ask everyone I know to pray for ‘No Rain.’ He can still give you a miracle, Cliff.” I tried my best to calm him down, reminding him of the times we’ve prayed before and how God had answered our prayers.
On Saturday morning the weather channel on TV showed 30% rain for Saturday night and 100% rain throughout Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma all day Sunday. My heart sank as I watched the Meteorologist show the low pressure that would cause the precipitation, plus the moisture from the Gulf to come in as “rain.” The Weather Man was quite thrilled while forecasting the most awaited rain after months of drought and numerous fires in Oklahoma and Texas. Knowing that over 150,000 acres of land and numerous houses had burned in both states, I felt guilty for praying for “No Rain.” But I wrestled with God in my mind that He could still allow it to rain 100% on Saturday and none on Sunday during the Show. Or rain in the others parts of Texas and Oklahoma, but none in LaMarque. I was actually telling God what to do. Although in my mind I wondered how the moisture coming from the Gulf could bypass LaMarque and fall in the rest of Texas and Oklahoma.
I sent out a prayer request for “No Rain on Sunday” to family and friends. A few e-mailed back saying, “We will pray,” while a few said, “But we need the rain!!!” All the while my mind kept talking to God to please let it rain on Saturday night and on Sunday to please hold off until after the Car Show. I asked God also for NO thunderstorms because lightning would definitely cancel the Show.
All day that Saturday the temperature was in the lower 50’s, which was quite chilly to stay outside. The motel manager made a remark that Texans don’t mind the rain, but they wouldn’t go anywhere when it’s cold. And so I pleaded with God some more. “And God, please make the temperature warmer. At least close to 60 degrees.” Although in my mind, I knew it would surely take a miracle for it to happen.
As soon as Cliff arrived at the motel that Saturday night, he checked the weather through his laptop.
“100% rain on Sunday starting 6:00 a.m.! I’ve never seen this in my four years of Car Shows! I can’t believe it!” Cliff felt he had lost so he gave out a lighthearted chuckle. Nonetheless, I assured him that God could still give him a miracle.
That night I couldn’t sleep right away and at 1:00 a.m. I was still wrestling with God in my mind. “God, I know it seems selfish of me to ask for ‘No Rain’ when this place really needs it, but You could have sent the rain a week ago.” I reminded God of how Cliff had been so faithful in giving his tithe, as if God needed reminding. I woke up at 5:15 that morning from a dream. I usually dream in parables and in this particular dream I saw that there was a beautiful program and I had a part in it. All the participants came, and the seats were filled and after it was over, everyone seemed content.
It was still dark outside, so I went back to sleep. At 7:00 that Sunday morning I went outside the motel room to check if it was raining. It wasn’t, but it must have rained that night because there was standing water on the parking lot. However, a dense fog had enveloped the whole area. And it was not cold at all. The temperature was 59 degrees.
We all got ready and drove to the place of the Car Show. I was amazed with what I saw. The vendors, the sponsors, and Cliff’s crew were setting up their tents. By 8:30 a long line of cars could be seen about half a mile away so J.R. and I got busy. Cars with fancy paintwork, some with vertical doors, monster trucks, and “drifting cars” came in. For seven hours we sold tickets and hardly had a break. Not even a lunch break. The spectator line and the car lines stayed long until 3:00 p.m. And NOT a drop of rain! We heard it was raining in Houston and Dallas but not in LaMarque. The Car Show went well. After 4:00 p.m. the surroundings started to get dark and the rain came! It was just a shower. People went inside their cars and under tents. After a few minutes the rain stopped, and the event continued. At 5:00 p.m. there came a heavy downpour ‘til nighttime. Overall the car show was a great success. We were truly grateful, for Cliff could have lost a great deal had it rained.
God’s promise is true, and He can still make exceptions because He is God. Malachi 3: 10 to 11 says: “’Bring the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘If I will not OPEN for you the windows of heaven…And I will REBUKE the devourer for your sakes, so that he will NOT destroy the fruits of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”