“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 and said, ‘I didn’t see anything.’…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.’”
1 Kings 18:42-44
Earlier that day, when Elijah prayed less than a minute, immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven. However, this time Elijah kept praying and kept waiting for the rain to come. Finally, the seventh time the servant went to look, he saw a small cloud.
Sometimes miracles come immediately, other times we must wait, but Elijah showed us how to wait expectantly. Even before the wind began to blow, Elijah spoke by faith to Ahab, “I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” Then Elijah acted in faith by climbing to the top of Mt. Carmel. There, he bowed low to the ground and prayed, showing a beautiful attitude of faith.
The miracle of rain did not arrive immediately like the fire. In fact, Elijah had known for three years that God would send rain eventually (17:1). Then before the prophets of Baal were summoned to Mt. Carmel, God announced He would soon send rain (18:1). But it was Elijah’s responsibility to keep on believing, no matter how long he had to wait.
So, when we have to wait for God to answer our prayers, will we keep speaking and acting in faith? Will our humble attitude prove that we trust GOD knows best WHEN to answer our prayers?
Whether God answers immediately or finally, HE remains the same!
Whether immediately or finally, may my FAITH remain the same!
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