1 Kings 18:1-2, 42-45 Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” So Elijah went to appear before Ahab.
(42-45) So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I don’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
Thus saith the Lord:
I told Elijah that it was going to rain. I told Elijah that I would end the drought. And he believed. He believed even when, after doing everything I had told him to do, when he prayed to Me, the rain did not immediately start. He believed even when he had to continue praying, sending his servant over and over – seven times – to check the sky for clouds. He continued to pray, in faith that what I promised would happen. Elijah did not stop believing just because what I said would happen was not immediately fulfilled. He did not stop believing just because he could not see any evidence of what I had promised. He did not stop trusting Me. He did not have the need to be immediately satisfied, to quickly see My promises come to fruition. He trusted through six prayer sessions where his faith was seemingly denied and it appeared My promise of rain would not come to pass. Yet, he persisted. And on the seventh check, he trusted even though the cloud was far off and very small. Faith, child. Faith in the face of seeming impossibility. Faith and trust while you wait. Faith and trust that, if I have said it will happen, it will. In My time. At My direction. Will you continue in faith? Will you trust Me in the waiting? Will you wait until I deem it is the best time to bring about My promises?
Amanuensis 