I heard a story recently about a village that had been experiencing drought for several years. Because of the lack of rain, their crops had dried up and the people were starving.

One day, the village leaders held a public meeting to pray for rain. On the night of the meeting, a little 6-year-old girl showed up with an umbrella. What must the village leaders have thought when they looked down at this skinny, malnourished little girl? 

“Doesn’t she know it hasn’t rained for several years? And she brought an umbrella!” 

1 Kings 18 in the Bible records a similar story of Elijah praying for rain on Mount Carmel where it hadn’t rained for several years:

“But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, ‘Go and look out toward the sea.’ The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, ‘I didn’t see anything.’ Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, ‘I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.’ Then Elijah shouted, ‘Hurry to Ahab and tell him to climb into our chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.”

Likewise, Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

Are you hoping and praying for something right now? Maybe it’s a financial breakthrough for your family. Maybe it’s for you or someone dear to you to be healed of a disease. Maybe it’s for someone you know to turn to Christ. Maybe it’s for our nation to return to God. Are you tempted to give up? 

Through the eye of faith, we believe for what we cannot see. Because of our faith, it becomes reality. 

Although the little girl couldn’t see the rain clouds, her faith led her to bring an umbrella to the prayer meeting. Although Elijah couldn’t yet see the rain clouds, he continued to pray and to ask his servant to look for the rain. The little cloud he saw became a mighty rainstorm. 

Many in our country have been praying for revival. We look around and see chaos, corruption and division. Because things appear to be going the wrong way, some are discouraged and tempted to give up. Maybe God isn’t really going to bring revival to America. 

But through the eye of faith, I encourage you to not give up. God is not going to bring revival because we deserve it. However, he does answer prayer and he will bring revival because he loves us. Often things look darkest just before the light shines. I believe America will experience revival and will be saved.

Don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. Scripture tells us to not grow weary in doing good. We must stand together and wait for the timing of the Lord. Believe through the eye of faith.

Faith: Have you lost your first love?