“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
In 1 Kings 18:41–46, Scripture records a powerful moment in the life of Elijah, a prophet who trusted God even when circumstances looked impossible. For more than three years, the sky remained sealed shut, and the land of Israel suffered a devastating drought. The ground hardened with dryness; people struggled to survive. Remarkably, at the very moment when the parched land and blistering sky appeared most hopeless, Elijah announced, “[I hear] a sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41 KJV).
At that moment, not a droplet of rain fell, no clouds filled with moisture, and no visible indication appeared that the drought would end. Instead, Elijah spoke from faith, not from sight. He had just witnessed God’s power by fire at the showdown on Mount Carmel, proving that the Lord alone is God.
Once that drama ended, another was about to begin. Thus, Elijah trusted that God would also fulfill His promise to send rain upon the land.
Elijah instructed Ahab, the king of Israel, to eat because he would need strength to endure the coming rain. Then the prophet climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bowed in a posture of prayer, and asked his servant to look toward the sea.
The servant looked once. Nothing appeared. Elijah told him to go again.
He looked a second time. Still nothing. A third time—nothing.
The process repeated itself seven times. Six times the servant returned with the same report: no clouds, no rain, no change in the sky. Elijah prayed relentlessly. Faith continued where visible evidence ended. Finally, on the seventh time, the servant reported a small cloud.
“There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” (1 Kings 18:44). How could such an insignificant cloud offer relief to a thirsty land? Even so, Elijah immediately recognized the sign. He told the servant to warn Ahab to prepare his chariot and leave before the deluge stopped him.
The sky blackened. The wind shrieked. The thunder rumbled. The lightning flashed. A great rain poured from the heavens. The drought ended exactly as God promised.
Avalanche of Rain in 2026
Ever since God’s pronouncement of a scarcity of rain in the time of Elijah, droughts have dotted the landscape of our planet for millennia. Northern Kenya is no exception.
As often happens, Kenya’s northern tribes experienced another severe drought, forcing many Moran warriors to migrate with their cows, sheep, goats, and camels to their tribal border areas in search of greener pastures and clean water. Many of these warriors attend classes at Mara Vision Outreach’s (MVO) literacy schools in the Pokot, Samburu, and Turkana territories. When they leave to search for pasture to keep their livestock alive, class attendance decreases.
In northern Kenya, tribalism (racism between tribes) increases during times of drought. Their lives become a struggle for survival to keep both their families and their livestock alive. Tragically, these ethnic groups encourage killing a warrior from another tribe as they deem necessary to protect their own communities.
As the border clashes increased, the Pokot, Samburu, and Turkana warriors raided the cattle of another tribe, which became their number one mission for survival. Along the cultural borders, Morans from Samburu plunder the Pokot; Pokot pillage Turkana; Turkana loot the Samburu—such a vicious cycle. Loss of life almost seems inevitable.
In response, Mara Vision Outreach organized a plan to go into the border areas to preach the everlasting gospel to the Morans, encourage them to trust in God amid famine and temptation, give them Adventist World Radio Godpods (solar-powered audio Bibles), and pray together for rain.
They held a planning meeting to discuss this border mission project. Then, they moved forward in faith on this potentially dangerous mission, unaware of the outcome.
They began their endeavor on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Originally, they planned for the mission excursion to last for one week. As God led them on this journey, they encountered many hurting people who embraced the grace that God offers. They shared the love of God with them and warned them that theft and taking the lives of others broke God’s law.
After spending six days in mission work, they realized some villages had not yet been entered. They requested from MVO leadership to continue reaching those villages with the Word of God for several more days.
In one area of Samburu, the workers received an invitation from a radio station to preach the Word and share short testimonies. All the villages they visited were able to hear the truth being broadcast over the airwaves. In one hour of free airtime, the gospel message warmed the hearts of many.
As they preached about the all-powerful God of the heavens, the floodgates of the sky opened just like in the days of Elijah. The rain pummeled the earth for several days, offering real hope to the warriors.
Lessons to be Learned
This Bible passage and the experience of the MVO workers reveal several powerful lessons about faith and prayer.
First, faith often hears God’s promise before the evidence appears. Elijah declared that he heard the sound of rain long before that tiny fist-sized cloud appeared. We as believers sometimes stand in similar moments. Circumstances may look dry and impossible, but God’s promises remain certain. MVO workers knew the danger they would face, but they couldn’t hold back in sharing God’s power.
Second, persistent prayer matters. Elijah did not pray once and give up. He continued praying until the answer appeared. Scripture repeatedly shows that God honors perseverance in prayer. The delay did not mean that God refused to answer; rather, it provided an opportunity for faith to endure. MVO pleaded with their donor base for prayers that legions of angels would hedge in these faithful few with wisdom and protection since the potential for bodily harm ran high.
Third, God often begins His work with small signs. The cloud the servant saw seemed tiny—only the size of a man’s hand. Yet that small cloud carried the beginning of a great storm that would restore the land. Many of God’s works begin quietly and grow into something far greater than expected. An hour of free time at a radio station covered more territory than the feet on the ground could have in another month.
Fourth, God strengthens those who trust Him. After the rain began, Scripture tells us that the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah, and the prophet ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot, all the way to Jezreel. The same God who sent the rain also gave His servant the strength to complete the journey. Because God strengthened them, MVO messengers of truth flung the seeds of hope far and wide for several more days beyond the week they had planned.
The story of Elijah reminds readers to watch for God’s promises, even when the sky still appears empty. Faith hears the coming rain before the clouds gather. When God speaks, His word stands certain—and in His time, the drought ends.
Call to Action
How is your faith today? Do you hear
the rain coming? Walk by faith before the rain appears.
Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
