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
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/
Exposed: Everything is Illuminated 