Pray Earnestly

A hermit once visited Mount Sinai. When he was going away, a brother met him, and groaned, saying, "Abba, we are afflicted by drought. There has been no rain."

The hermit said, "Why don't you pray and ask God for it?"

He replied, "We've been praying and asking God constantly, and still there is no rain."

The hermit said, "I don't think you are praying earnestly enough. Shall we see whether that is the case? Let us stand and pray together." He stretched out his hands to heaven and prayed; and at once rain fell.

The brother was afraid at the sight, and fell down and worshiped him. But the hermit fled from that place.