waiting and expecting

"if i cannot catch 'the sound of noise of rain' long before the rain falls, and, going to some hilltop of the spirit, as near to my God as i can, have not faith to wait there with my face between my knees, though six times or sixty times i am told 'there is nothing,' till at last 'there arises a little cloud out of the sea,' then i know nothing of calvary love." amy carmichael

"and elijah said to ahab, 'go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.' so ahab went up to eat and to drink. and elijah went up to the top of mount carmel. and he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. and he said to his servant, 'go up now, look toward the sea.' and he went up and looked and said, 'there is nothing.' and he said, 'go again,' seven times. and at the seventh time he said, 'behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.' and he said, 'go up, say to ahab, prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.' and in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. and ahab rode and went to jezreel. and the hand of the Lord was with elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before ahab to the entrance of jezreel." 1 kings 18:41-46