Waiting for the Rain

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I Kings 18:41-46 (NAS, emphasis mine)
"Now Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.' 42 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. 43 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. 44 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.' ' 45 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. 46 Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel."

James 5:17-18 (NAS)
"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. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."

I believe God sends rain in our lives to help nurture us, grow us, and help us thrive spiritually. There are times that are between the rains, when we must have faith and hope that our rain is coming. I believe that, like Elijah, we must have the humility to get on our knees and cry out to the God of heaven (he "crouched to the ground and placed his head between his knees" - v. 42). Elijah prayed seven times, and it was on the seventh time (seven is the number of completeness in the Bible) that Ahab reported back. After intense prayer, there appeared a cloud the size of a man's hand. From that tiny cloud, a heavy rainstorm appeared (v. 45). If you're going through a rough time in life, remember that "our rain is coming" (thank you, Beth Moore, for that precious reminder)! When God rains His blessings down, it pours!

"Side Notes:"

(Think metaphorically) If God sent a constant rain, the crops would have ruined, there would have been flooding on the land. Spiritually speaking, we would not grow in Christ if there was a constant rain. Spiritual growth requires times of hardship. Then is usually when a believer will excel in his or her faith.