This scripture describes Elijah’s remarkable experience on Mount Carmel. Three and a half years earlier, he had foretold a severe punishment of prolonged drought over King Ahab and the rebellious people.
Now that Israel had returned to their God in repentance and the deceivers among the people were removed, they awaited the rain prophesied by Elijah for the land. But it was delayed.
On Mount Carmel, Elijah fervently prayed for the fulfillment of the prophecy. He had to send his servant to the lookout by the sea seven times until he spotted a small cloud and returned to his master with a glimmer of hope.
Encouraged by this, Elijah took the bold step of sending Ahab off with his chariot so that the approaching rain wouldn’t hinder him. One can only imagine what the king would have done to him if the promised rains had not come! And the miracle happened: the long-awaited rain ended the terrible drought.
Reflecting on this story, we get a vivid impression of the immense pressure Elijah must have been under. His predictions had to come true, or he risked losing credibility with the people, not to mention the king’s wrath. The repeated dispatching of the servant could have led to impatience and eventually undermined Elijah’s confident attitude. Did Elijah’s courage, hope, and faith diminish with each negative report?
We read nothing of the sort. Instead, Elijah steadfastly held onto God’s promise until God Himself ended this test of faith. How much we can learn from Elijah! Don’t we encounter similar situations in our lives? For a long time, we bring a specific concern to God, earnestly pleading for an answer and eagerly looking for signs of divine response.
Perhaps we pray for health during times of illness, or for a much-needed job, or for a loving spouse, or for long-awaited children. Or perhaps we are particularly concerned about the salvation of loved ones or the healing of broken relationships. Maybe we’re struggling because our spiritual life isn’t progressing, or we feel inadequate or unfit for the Lord’s service. We go through our own personal droughts, feeling like heaven is silent. The relieving rain of blessing simply doesn’t come, and our expectations and sufferings even intensify. Eventually, we don’t understand God anymore and feel disappointed somehow.
Now many questions begin to gnaw at us: Why doesn’t God answer me? What’s the reason for His silence? Has He abandoned me? Does He not realize that my community, in which I eagerly want to testify that God answers prayers, is watching critically?
Prayer Obstacles
It can be helpful in such cases to examine prayer obstacles by asking ourselves the following questions:
1. Is there any sin between me and God or my fellow human beings that prevents His intervention?
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Elijah had nothing separating him from God. He lived in close communion with his Lord and had been able to persuade the king and the people to repent through the miracles of God. All obstacles were removed. What about us? Is there something to be reconciled between us and God or with our fellow human beings?
2. Could we possibly be praying against His will?
“Now this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).
This obstacle to prayer could also be excluded in Elijah’s case. God wanted to give rain to His people once again. He had already given Elijah a clear sign of His will with a “sound.” The miracle of the coming rain would once again demonstrate God’s greatness and power to Israel. Do we pray like Elijah, in accordance with God’s will? It’s not always immediately clear to us what God’s will is in a particular matter. Therefore, it’s quite helpful to first pray specifically for knowledge of His will and to develop the willingness to accept and act according to this will of God. Jesus Himself was a great example to us in this, even regarding His time of suffering when He said to His Father, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
The revelation of His will can happen in various ways for us, either through reading the Bible, but also through a sign from God or input from the Holy Spirit.
3. Do we lack faith?
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).
Elijah had the unshakable courage of faith to persuade Ahab to leave immediately, without having seen a single drop of rain. How far does our personal faith extend?
How times of waiting become times of growth
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV).
But what should we do when, despite prayer obstacles being removed, God’s answer is delayed? Such times of waiting are often very difficult for us humans to endure and can lead to genuine times of testing and crises of faith. Do our faith and trust in God seem to falter?
Elijah’s faith had to withstand six negative reports. With each new sending of his servant, it would have been increasingly difficult to trust God. But his faith grew through his challenges.
So, times of waiting should become times of growth for us as well. Isn’t this often the reason why God’s answer is delayed? It may be that at the moment, He has different goals for us than we do. In these times of waiting, deficiencies may become apparent to us that we were not aware of before.
But God wants to help us overcome our deficiencies. Perhaps our heavenly Father is expecting growth in faith, trust, love, patience, understanding, and surrender from us right now? Could it be that He wants to change our inner prayer attitude so that His honor and the glorification of His name become the highest prayer goal for us, and the fulfillment of our own desires becomes secondary?
Our Inner Prayer Attitude
The following passage from Psalm 73 is a great help in achieving a changed inner prayer attitude: “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works” (Psalm 73:28).
My joy in the Lord is not dependent on whether God answers my prayer immediately or later, or whether the manner of His answer meets my expectations or not. I do not allow any distance to arise between me and my Lord because of these circumstances.
I place my confidence regarding the answer to my prayers solely on Him, never losing courage, but praying persistently and faithfully. I consider the waiting period for myself as a time of growth in which God works on me, changes me, and pursues His goals with me.
Instead of complaining and losing heart, I use these opportunities to continue telling of God’s goodness from the past. This honors my Lord, encourages me, and makes those around me think.
Thus, times of waiting become times of growth, and times of personal drought become times of blessing.
Brigitte Reß
Herford, Germany
Be the first to comment