Continuation of Faith

Exercise is something that requires the “Faith" that it will work, or we wouldn't do it. We know may not see results right away, but after a while of continuing to exercise, we do expect to see results.

Elijah and his servant also had to be diligent in their faith even when at first, they didn’t see the results they were looking for. Their story is as follows: There had not been any rain in the land for three years which was no surprise to the people or Elijah because he had told the King of that land in advance this would happen. At the end of the three years, God told Elijah to go back to the King and he did. Elijah ended up telling the King that rain was on the way and then he and his servant went up to the top of the mountain. On that mountain, Elijah knelt on the ground and began to pray. As he was praying he sent his servant six times to go up to the top of the mountain and check for rain. Six times his servant came back to him saying "There is nothing." Imagine Elijah knowing that God had told him he was now sending the rain, and yet his servant kept coming back to him saying "There is nothing." Elijah didn't give up though, he sent his servant back, and finally the seventh time his servant came back saying, "Behold, a cloud as small as a man's hand is coming up from the sea." Shortly after that, the Bible says that the sky became blackened by clouds, wind and a heavy rain came pouring down.

The faith of both men and how they worked together is incredible. Elijah knew that God had told him He was going to bring rain and Elijah positioned himself in prayer- praying for that rain. He even involved his servant in this event. Think for a moment about his servant and the faith it required of him. His servant could have said to Elijah around the second or third time coming back and seeing rain "This is crazy I'm not seeing any sign of rain coming and I'm exhausted from going up and down this mountain and I'm done with this." He didn't give up though- he had great faith, diligence, and faithfulness to God and Elijah.

So often we have been told something by God that we need to look for- something that He is going to do. When we don't see it right away though we tend to get tired of looking for it. We let our faith dwindle and quit. At those moments when we feel like quitting we have to remind ourselves to stay in that mode of "Continuation of faith" despite what we're not seeing at the moment. In a "moment" is when we get to see everything that God has said to us coming to pass if we remain faithful. Sometimes it may seem easier to quit, but Elijah and his servant leave us the challenge to "Continue in what we know-regardless of what it looks like." Elijah and his servant proved that day being prayerful, expectant, diligent, and faithful pays off, and they were able to be a part of God's plans that day. Elijah determined to not leave until it rained like God had told them and he didn't.

Great things in life do not always come easy- most often it requires a lot of work, determination, and faith. Walking in faith with God and even each other isn't always easy. However, if we don't give up we will get to see so many blessings in our lives as well in the lives of others. Each of us needs to daily pray, expect, and be diligent in what we know God has said and continue in that until the "rain" comes.

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns