Wednesday - Thursday

"41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." 44 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.'" 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.


It must have sounded ridiculous to Ahab when Elijah told him that there was a sound of heavy rain. In the natural, there is not a cloud in sight. The skies are clear and blue, and Ahab's report was that there was nothing there. Was Elijah hearing things? Is he going cuckoo? Actually, Elijah was rather in tune. He could see what was not yet seen, and hear what could not yet be heard. But he was the only one.

Isn't it funny that many times when the Lord speaks to you about something, you are the only one to hear it? He puts a dream or a desire in your heart that leaves your family and friends perplexed? If everyone around heard the sound of rain, then it wouldn't be prophetic. It was one man sensing something from the Lord that had not yet been manifested in the slightest.

When Elijah climbed up the mountain and sent his servant down towards the sea to look for rain, the reports just kept coming back negative. In the meanwhile he was praying so hard he was in the fetal position with his face down to the ground.

Nope, no rain.
Go Back.

Still nothing.
Go Back.

Elijah, really. The sky is still clear.
Go Back.

Nothing.
Go Back.

Come on, Elijah. I'm tired of going back up and down. It's not going to rain.
Go Back

No rain Elijah. Are you sure you heard right?
Go Back.

Well, it's not much. It's a tiny little cloud about the size of my fist....
You better get your chariot ready before the rain stops you.

Stops me? Even if it does rain, it will just be a little drizzle. It surely won't "stop" me...
Skies grew black, winds rose, rain pours.

What Elijah heard was bigger than he could explain to anyone who lacked faith. It was bigger than what could be comprehended by the natural mind considering the circumstances. If it were me I would have questioned if I heard right. I would have considered the possibility that it wasn't "God's will" because there was just too much disappointment and no indication that it would come to pass. Many times we allow the disappointment of natural circumstances to affect our perseverance and faith. After the first, second or third "nothing yet" we throw in the towel and assume we heard God wrong.

There will always come a season in between when God speaks and what He speaks manifests. That season is the testing of your faith. Will you believe and continue believing? Will you contend and keep on contending? Will you persevere and keep on persevering?

My word for myself and anyone else feeling weary today is Go Back. When you lack faith and direction just go back to the last thing God spoke to you. The last thing you thought you heard, but later questioned. It may have been months ago, or even years but when you don't feel God's current direction go back to the last thing you heard and stay there. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. Don't stop contending, don't stop believing and keep trusting that He will do what He promised. When that negative report comes back, Go Back. Go back to that word, go back to that promise and go back to that place of unwavering faith that you first had when you heard it.