The Faith and Persistence of Elijah

There is a wonderful story about Elijah in 1 Kings 18:40-46. The land was badly in need of rain. By faith, Elijah told King Ahab that he heard the sound of a heavy rain. By faith, he believed it was coming.

And then Elijah began to pray and seek God to send the rain. Elijah sent his servant to look at the sky six times. The servant reported back every time there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! But on the seventh time, something happened. The servant reported there was a cloud the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.

That’s all he needed to know. Elijah told his servant, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

Verse 45 says, “…the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.”

What are you praying and believing for today? By faith, can you hear the sound of a heavy rain, even before you see the cloud? And what if Elijah had not persisted until he saw the cloud? What if he had given up after six reports of “not a cloud in the sky”?

I think this story should be an example to all of us who are praying and believing for answers to our prayers! Have faith! And be persistent! Maybe it’s time to “hitch up our chariots and get ready for the rain!”