Waiting for Rain

PERSISTENCE AND FAITH

1 Kings 18:43-44 – “Go and look toward the sea, [Elijah] told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times, Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ The seventh time, the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” (NIV)

I love biblical stories about Elijah and Elisha. To me, they’re like biblical superheroes. With their mighty faith, they were able to achieve such miraculous wonders, second only to Jesus. But I’ll explore them more fully on another day.

In today’s passage, the land of Israel experienced a great drought because they had turned away from the Lord. After three years, God sent Elijah to King Ahab to tell him that the drought was over and the rain they so desperately needed was on the way. After delivering the message, Elijah went up to Mount Carmel to pray. At first, he saw no response to his prayers, but he persisted. He sent his servant seven times to look for any evidence of a rain cloud, and on the seventh time, a small rain cloud had begun to swell…

It didn’t matter the report, what eyes saw, or ears heard, Elijah trusted the Word of God, believing, persisting, until he saw its manifestation.

It’s often challenging to have that level of faith today. There are so many things to distract us from the deep, singular relationship with God that such faith requires. But Elijah stands through the ages as a model of what real faith looks like, and what it can manifest in this earthly realm, particularly when we are seeking God’s will above our own.

Are you in a posture of waiting? Hoping for a response from God? Stand firm and persist in your faith. God will ALWAYS answer in time.

I mentioned before that my husband and I are in a posture of waiting in faith. We have received several reports that things were not looking good for us, but we have persisted in prayer and have continued to stand firm in our faith that God has the final say. A few weeks ago, during Sunday service, I sought God for confirmation that our waiting would not be in vain, and I received it! Our blessing, our miracle, is on the way! I see the tiny rain cloud and will continue to pray in faith as I “wait for rain!”

Shine Your Light!

Additional Scripture

1 John 5: 14-15 – “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV)

Songs

There Is a Cloud (Live) – Elevation Worship

Rain on Us – Earnest Pugh

---

Photo Credits

Photo 1: https://www.theoakleafnews.com/variety/2019/10/08/waiting-for-rain/

Photo 2: https://www.campsitephotos.com/blog/campground-reviews-adventures/roll-with-the-changes/

Photo 3: https://time.com/4521057/megadrought-california-climate-change/

Photo 4: https://www.thriftyfun.com/Storm-Cloud-Photos.html

Photo 5: https://fadingmeta.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/waiting-for-that-rain/

Stop and Do a Spirit Check

Habakkuk 2:2-3 – “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets; that he may run who reads it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Sometimes, I feel like a failure…inadequate for the calling that God has placed upon my life. It’s rare, but it still happens. I’m a planner, and when the plan doesn’t come to fruition, or takes significantly longer to implement than I’d expected, I can be pretty hard on myself. The journey towards the fulfillment of the vision God has given me, despite all of my planning, has truly been a years-long struggle; and sometimes, I just want to throw in the towel and take the easy road…the road of least resistance…abandon the call and do something that’s just not so…HARD.

It’s in those moments that I do a spirit check. Meditating on the Word and praying about whether I truly believe that God has called me to accomplish the task at hand. Did He really choose flawed, unprepared me to fulfill this seemingly huge undertaking?? The answer is always the same—a soul encompassing, resounding YES. I can’t avoid it! Every time, I come to the same conclusion. With this certainty in mind, I pull up my bootstraps and get back to work! Walking away is no longer an option, and I move forward confident in my purpose and knowing that in time, the vision WILL be fulfilled.

Delays, difficulties, and setbacks can easily deter us, and occasionally discourage us, from fulfilling our purpose and the calling on our lives. I think that we often assume that if it’s something God called us to do, it will all come easily and quickly (I’ve definitely heard that opinion several times). And sometimes it does! But other times, the long journey to the fulfillment of the vision helps to prepare us for the role we must ultimately play. Just look at Joseph, who had a vision of his future as a boy, but had to endure betrayal, enslavement, and incarceration before he saw it come to fruition. What about David? He was anointed to be king as a youth, but went from being a renowned hero to a fugitive running for his life before he ascended to the throne. The important thing to remember is that even in the midst of, and despite, these trials, both men maintained their faith in God and in His promises; and in time, they moved into their God-ordained positions.

Has God called you to a certain role, ministry, or form of service? The road to fulfilling that calling may not always be easy; but in those moments of difficulty and doubt, just do a spirit check. If you know the work is something God has called you to do, know also that, in time, the vision He has given you will come to fruition. Learn the lessons along the way; be open to grow and develop; and above all else, trust that God is with you, moving and working in ways we cannot see to ensure the ultimate fulfillment of the vision He has placed upon your heart.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Endless Blue Skies…

PERSEVERANCE 

John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Reflections: So many times, as Christians, we are shocked and amazed that life can be hard some days. I think that deep down, we expect God to make our lives a sweet-smelling bed of roses, or at least that He would snap His fingers and make all of our problems go away instantly. But the reality is that God never promised us endless blue skies without the threat of a cloudy day. In fact, Jesus assures us that in this world, we WILL have troubles. The good news, though, is that he also assures us that we can take heart and have hope, because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). He promised to stand by our side, and sometimes carry us, through every hardship, ultimately leading us to a life more abundant in Him. Because of Him, we can persevere through whatever life throws our way, knowing that in the end, we will have the victory.

So, yes, we will have struggles; and yes, it may seem like more than we can bear some days; but praise God that we don’t have to bear it alone! All we have to do is lean on God, give Him our burdens, and receive His promised peace, His unspeakable joy, and His unending love as we soldier through the cloudy days to get to our next blue sky.

Shine your light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!