So yesterday, despite being hot, was a beautiful day here in Northern Virginia. Not a cloud in the brilliant blue sky…well, almost. As Mikaela and I (and Brandon, our almost 4 year old “boxador”), took off for a morning walk, I was admiring the dazzling, clear, blue sky when something jumped out at me - a tiny cloud just off to the right, completely by itself. Not a friend in sight. Odd…usually when there is such a small piece of cloud there is a bigger one not far behind. But I’m telling you, in the vast expanse of blue there was nothing to be found save this one, little poof, not much bigger than, I don’t know, maybe the size of a man’s hand…
Immediately God brought the story of 1 Kings 18 to my mind. They were in the middle of a severe drought. It had not rained for three years. Yet, seemingly out of nowhere, Elijah said, “It’s going to rain in abundance!” Can you imagine what the people thought of this? The sky was perfectly clear. Not a cloud in sight. No physical sign of what Elijah knew in his heart the Lord had told Him. Seven times he sent a servant to go up on a hill and look for rain. The first 6 times the servant returned where Elijah prayed and said, “There is nothing.” The seventh time, as the servant undoubtedly huffed and stomped off once again (probably rolling his eyes and muttering “This is ridiculous,” under his breath), he spotted a tiny speck in the midst of the sea of blue. He came back and told Elijah, “Well, there is a cloud about the size of a man’s hand.” Elijah jumps up and says, “Hurry! Go quick before the rains stop you!” You know people thought Elijah was crazy. Then Elijah himself, grew so confident that he took off running….nearly twenty miles! And he beat the chariots to his destination to spread the news.
When you know in your heart that God has spoken something to you, or when you have found a promise in the Word, but all physical evidence and human logic says there is no way, hold on to that tiny speck. Know Whom you have believed. Know that God is a God of His word and that if He has promised He will deliver. Are you believing God for something that you see no evidence of? Have you forgotten the promise that was made, or how much you believed it until you started looking at your circumstances? Take a minute and go back to that time when you knew you had heard from God, or go back to that scripture verse that you read that you have let life diminish. God’s timing is different than ours, but it is perfect. What He has promised He will do. Just when it seems something isn’t going to happen, hold onto that smallest piece and proclaim the victory!
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” Philippians 1:6
