A cloud as small as a man’s hand

You are probably familiar with Elijah’s prayer for rain (1 King 18). While praying for rain, he asked his servant to look for a physical sign of the approach of rain. Elijah never bothered to take his focus off from his prayer. Verse 44 records his servant’s word, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” Hearing this Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ Meanwhile Elijah himself runs ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel. Amazing!

 Here Elijah exhibits the kind of faith God expects from His people. He stood on God’s promise to send rain (1 King 18.1) His fully expected God to send rain, and the moment he saw a slight physical sign of rain, he ran ahead fully anticipating a torrent to come crashing down. The land had been parched for three year and Elijah knew that God would send rain heavy enough to soak and refresh the land.

What areas are laying parched in your life, right now? Stand on God’s promises to restore the same and go to Him in earnest prayer. Is your marriage in trouble? Are you sick in the body? Are you struggling financially? Are your children in trouble? No matter how dry and hopeless your situation is, don’t give up. Our God specializes in restoration and abundance (1 Peter 5.10; John 10.10 KJV, AMP). He will turn around your marriage and heal all the wounds. He will make you walk in divine healing (Matthew 4.24; 8.16; 14.36; Mark 6.56). He will release financial abundance into your life that you will need to share it with your neighbors (Luke 5.7; 6.38). God will bless your children with spiritual, emotional and physical blessings that they will be walking store houses of blessings to others (Isaiah 54.13).

So do not lose hope if you have yet to see your ‘cloud’. Continue your communion with God, and be prepared to run ahead of the rain.