And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. (1 Kings 18:1)
There is a fascinating story in 1 Kings 17-18, and if we don't get some rain around here pretty soon we're going to think it hits a little too close to home! For it's in these chapters that we read of Elijah praying that it would not rain, and it didn't rain in the land of Israel for 3 years. This was God's judgement on wicked king Ahab for his idolatry and other sins. It's a good read, so I encourage you to check it out in your copy of the Bible.
After Elijah prayed and the rain stopped, God sent him to a remote location where he would be safe from his enemies. And then three years passed. Now that would be a long time to be thrust off by yourself, waiting for God to do something. That little phrase "it came to pass after many days" just kind of paints the picture for me.
Have you ever felt like God wasn't there anymore? Does it seem to feel like "many days" pass without a word from Him? We all experience periods in our Christian lives which feel dry and lifeless - desert experiences which try our souls. It's important to realize that at such times it is really only a feeling. God never leaves you, even if you sometimes feel like He does.
When you come to the desert places in life, how do you handle it? Some choose the path of drifting away from God and His church. Others, like Elijah, wait patiently for God to send the rain. Even in the desert, my friend, keep right on trusting Him. It may take many days, but He will be there at the end of those days, and He will bring rain to your thirsty soul.
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