Waiting for Rain: Finding Faith in Dry Times

Where do we turn when our souls feel as dry as a land without rain?

The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18 offers powerful insights into navigating seasons of spiritual dryness and learning how to stand firm in faith when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.

For three and a half years, Israel had experienced drought. The land was cracked, crops had withered, and water had grown scarce. This physical drought was more than a natural disaster—it mirrored the spiritual dryness of the people.

Just as the ground was barren, so were their hearts. They had abandoned the living God and turned to empty idols. In their search for life apart from Him, they ended up with emptiness and despair.

Sound familiar? In our modern lives, we too can end up chasing things that don’t satisfy—career achievements, possessions, or the latest trends. We pursue them, we obtain them, and yet we’re still left asking:

“Is this all there is?”

Into this drought—physical and spiritual—steps Elijah, whose very name means “Yahweh is the Lord.” He calls for a dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel between Baal and the living God.

• Baal’s prophets shout, dance, and cut themselves for hours—yet nothing happens. No fire. No response. Only silence.

• Elijah quietly rebuilds the altar of the Lord, drenches the sacrifice with water, and prays a simple but faith-filled prayer:

Then the unthinkable happens. Fire falls from heaven—not just singeing the sacrifice, but consuming everything: the wood, the stones, the soil, even the water filling the trench.

The people fall to their knees in shock and awe, their voices rising together:
“The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

It was a scene no one could forget—an undeniable demonstration of God’s unmatched power and presence. In a moment, the spiritual drought was pierced by the blazing reality of God’s glory.

But the story doesn’t end with fire. Even after this breathtaking display of God’s power, the drought in the land remained. Elijah had to persist in prayer, sending his servant to look for rain seven times before a small cloud finally appeared.

This reminds us:

• Even after spiritual victories, we may still wait for the “rain.”
• God calls us to keep praying, keep believing, even when answers don’t come immediately.

It’s easy to read Elijah’s story and think, “Well, of course God answered him—he was a prophet!” But Scripture reminds us otherwise:

“Elijah was a human being, even as we are.” (James 5:17)

Elijah wasn’t a superhero. He wasn’t flawless. He was a man who struggled with fear, weariness, and doubt—just like us. And yet, when he prayed, God acted.

This is the beauty of Elijah’s story: the spotlight isn’t on Elijah’s greatness, but on God’s faithfulness.

• Elijah prayed—and the heavens closed.
• Elijah prayed again—and the heavens opened.
• Elijah stood alone—but God made His presence undeniable.

This ordinary man reminds us that God delights in using ordinary faith to accomplish extraordinary things. When we feel weak, uncertain, or small, we can remember that what matters most is not the size of our strength but the greatness of our God.

Think about it: the same God who answered with fire on Mount Carmel is the God who listens when you whisper a prayer in the quiet of your room. The same God who sent rain after years of drought is the God who can bring refreshment to your weary soul today.

So, where are you placing your trust?

• In the shifting promises of this world?

• Or in the eternal, faithful God who answers by fire and sends rain in His time?

May we be people who stand boldly, pray persistently, and proclaim with confidence:
“The Lord, He is God!”

Want to go deeper? Watch the full sermon for more encouragement and insight into Elijah’s story.