1 Kings 18:43-44(NIV) ‘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.’ 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.
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Elijah’s servant had returned to him six times with the observation, there was nothing. Elijah refused to take no for an answer. He continued in prayer. When he saw that faith lacked evidence, he refused to allow the report: There is nothing. When there was no cloud, he refused to accept it. He kept on looking.
No evidence or sign existed to verify that the rain was coming. The servant went to look and reported that fact. Long after everyone else had given up, he continued trusting God. He held onto God’s word. He kept on looking.
Elijah kept believing that the rain will come. A cloud as small as a man’s hand appeared from the sea and the next moment the rain came. The dry season was over and finally the harvest appeared.
One of the most valuable lessons on prayer is found here. It is perseverance. What does it mean? It means keep on and on praying, in spite of no sign of your prayer being answered.
Here, Elijah was asked by God to present himself before Ahab, and God had promised to send rain on the land. This promise was the surety that enabled Elijah to pray on. He knew within himself that rain was bound to come for he had obeyed whatever God had told him to do. He knew for sure that God would keep His word.
Such is the quality of persevering prayer that the sight of a cloud as small as a man’s hand is enough to proclaim to others to get prepared to receive the much awaited and expected answer!
In conclusion, never give up. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18(MSG) declares: So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Chronicles 15:7(NIV) But as for you, be strong and do not give up, your work will be rewarded.
This day, refuse to take no for an answer, instead, praying and keep on looking.