by Leigh Ann Dilley on August 21, 2026
There is a sweet verse in 2 Chronicles that has come to my mind often this summer when natural weather events or anything else seem out of control. It is 2 Chorn 7:14 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Like most verses in the Bible, it is important to know who God was speaking to, what was said before and after this verse as well as the setting.
Solomon had just finished building the temple when the Lord appeared to him and spoke this verse. God was speaking to his own people, not the masses who do not follow him. God tells them there will be times when He will shut up the heavens and no rain will fall. He may command grasshoppers to devour crops and send plagues. By now, God was familiar with the sin and disobedience of his people, so He provides a remedy for His people of what to do when these consequences occur.
First, we, as His people, are called to humble ourselves and turn to God in prayer. We can’t fight natural disasters, but God can. He instructs us to turn to Him quickly and repent. Repentance is the first thing we must do to receive God’s gift of salvation so it makes sense that we would repent whenever we wish to go before God. Within repentance there is an element of surrender. Surrender all uncontrollable circumstances to God.
With the humility that goes with repentance and surrender, the door is open to receive God promise to hear us and forgive us, but God doesn’t stop there. He promises to restore or heal our land.
Our land still needs healing from heat, wildfires, lack of rain, flooding and in some cases, war. I speculate the gift of restoration and healing extends to any environment around us; tension at home, a relationship, unemployment, legal issues, health, etc.
God instructs his people to be humble, repent and pray for the healing and help we need; not to complain and assign blame to individuals, groups, or nations around us.
It’s true many of us deny God and sin in different ways but God has made it clear to His people that He still hears our prayers, cares for us, and will restore any environment that is out of our control.
