There had been a three-and-a-half-year drought in the land of Israel. You can imagine how the crops looked. No sprinklers to water their fields. No fields to harvest their food. In the midst of this dreary time the prophet Elijah told King Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” (1 Kings 18:41-46). One of the servants went outside to check and he came back saying, “there is nothing.”
What will you do when you hear there is nothing? What will you do when you’re praying for something while seeing nothing. Maybe you open your bank account and say, “there is nothing.” Maybe the doctor said, “there is nothing we can do.” Maybe you were told at a young age, “You are nothing.” Don’t listen to the voice of condemnation, listen to the voice of God. In the sky was no cloud. Yet in spite of what they were seeing with their eyes, God was taking the water from the ground, lifting it up, and creating clouds! God creates something even when there is nothing.
Elijah said, “Go again” seven times. I’m sure that was getting exhausting for this servant. Yet Elijah was stalling, he knew that this drought was going to end soon. After the seventh time the servant went back and said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” (1 Kings 18:44). There is a cloud. It may not be much, but there is something happening. God wants us to celebrate the small clouds. It’s time to be rain ready! When you go to the gym and only see minor results, celebrate it. When you put money into a savings account instead of spending it, celebrate it. Rejoice in the small victories.
When Jesus was teaching, many people gathered to hear him and there were more than five thousand people in need of food. The disciples saw a lad who had five loaves of bread and two fish. Philip one of the disciples said, “but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). Maybe you feel insignificant. Maybe you feel that what you have is not that much. My friend that small amount of food may not have been much, but through the power of Jesus this was able to feed the multitude of people. Never underestimate the small stuff when God is on your side.
What happened after three and a half years of no rain? The Scriptures tell us that, “the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.” Israel was blessed with an abundance of rain. I’m believing with you that your dry season is over. Hear, by faith, the sound of an abundance of rain. Celebrate the small clouds. That day when Jesus was on the cross, the sky became dark with clouds; that day was filled with clouds so that you and I today can be blessed with a rain of God’s grace!
Courage With Grace Ministries 