Have you ever felt like you are praying but nothing is happening? Or, like you are sharing your walk with Jesus but no one is getting it? I’m sure we’ve all been there; I know I have for sure. It gets hard to keep going when you feel so discouraged by the progress you aren’t seeing. Faith is hard when you feel unheard. Right now I’m in the midst of a 21 prayer and fasting journey. I got sick the first time I started this journey and in keeping with the theme of the season of life that I am in, I’ve had to begin again. I love how God works things so that we don’t miss what He has for us to learn.
Two days of readings from my 21 days is the story of Elijah and how he prayed for it to not rain and it didn’t.
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”” 1 Kings 17:1 NASB1995
“Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times. It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’ ” In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:41-45 NASB1995
For THREE and a half years there was no rain. This drought takes place during the reign of Ahab over Israel. Ahab married Jezebel who brought with her the worship of Baal and a temple was built for that worship. This provoked God to anger and that’s the reason for the drought. Can you imagine the devastation that comes with no rain for that long. Nothing is growing which means food becomes scarce. I’m sure that there were many dead crops and flocks from lack of food and water. A lot happens during this time but suffice it to say that Israel was in a state of decay and devastation after years of no rain.
Elijah returned at the behest of God and gathered the prophets of Baal. There was a test of who’s god was real with a sacrifice. Of course Baal didn’t burn the sacrifice, but God showed up and showed out. The bull offered to God and the altar it was on were drenched in water 3 times and the fire of the Lord still burned it all up, even the stones, and dried up all the water. Then all the prophets of Baal were caught and executed. The Elijah went up to the top of Carmel and prayed and the rain came.
If you are anything like me, it may take you a time or two before you catch this next part. This story of Elijah is briefly referenced in James 5 and it’s so quick that you may miss what I think is the most important part.
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:17-18 NASB1995
Elijah prayed it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t. For three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain and it did. And then something else happened.
CROPS grew!
This implies that there were seeds in the ground. Working the farm with my sister and learning from her I know a little bit about seeds. Once you put them in the ground there’s a pretty short life span for germination. If the seeds don’t germinate in that time they generally break down and become part of the soil. Knowing that and seeing that crops grew when Elijah prayed for rain… The amazing faith that these farmers had to keep sowing seeds into the dust believing that the rain was coming. They didn’t know when so they kept sowing their seeds and waiting and believing that God was going to show up and that His timing was always right. They just kept moving forward in faith, even when they were discouraged by not seeing.
Sometimes when I pray it feels like that. Like sowing seeds in the desert and waiting for the rain. I’m still learning that even when it feels like I’m not seeing anything happening physically, spiritual things are still happening. I want to have my seeds in the ground when the rain comes.
My prayer is that even when our prayers don’t seem to be making a visible difference, we’d keep sowing anyway, trusting the One who brings the rain.
doublevisionbelievingisseeing.com 