Last Sunday my pastor preached about Elijah. For many years the land of Samaria had experienced famine. Wadis were dry, cattle were dying, crops were destroyed. In 1 Kings 18, after God had defeated the prophets of Baal, Elijah began to pray for rain. On top of Mount Carmel, Elijah got on his face to petition God. Six times he sent his young servant to go look for a cloud; six times the servant replied, “There’s nothing” (18:43). Elijah kept praying expectantly; on the seventh trip, the servant reported there was a cloud “as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea” (18:44). And then it rained. In fact, the Bible says “there was a downpour” (18:45).

Deeply convicted, I realized that I had been expecting the downpour, but hadn’t gone looking for the wisp of cloud. Giving up on prayer, being discouraged when answers don’t come, isn’t the way God wants me to live. Giving up is based on sight, not faith. Giving up doesn’t give God time to work, both in the circumstances and in my heart. And giving up doesn’t teach me to hold my Savior’s hand when times are dark.

Giving up, complaining, being angry—these are simply not options for us. They give our enemy a toehold to speak lies into our hearts. Let’s keep knocking on heaven’s door, patiently waiting for our Father’s perfect plan and timing to unfold. He is always working, always for our best.