welcome home.

By Pastor Johnie Akers 

The words of 1 Kings 18:1 land with quiet authority: “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” For three long years, Israel had lived under a sealed sky. No rain fell, crops failed, and hope dried up with the land. The drought was not merely meteorological; it was spiritual. God had withheld rain to confront a nation that had turned its face toward idols. And now, before the rain could fall, Ahab would have to see Elijah’s face. In essence to turn his face back to God.

This moment reminds us that divine restoration often follows divine confrontation. The rain was promised, but not without obedience. Elijah could not stay hidden. He had to step into danger, into conflict, into the presence of a king who wanted him dead. In essence, God was saying, It’s not going to rain until you show up. Breakthrough was tied to boldness.

There is something deeply personal about this pattern. Many of us pray for rain—relief, answers, renewal—while hoping to remain unseen. We ask God to change circumstances without requiring us to change position. Yet Scripture shows again and again that God’s movement is often linked to our willingness to stand where He sends us. Elijah’s appearance before Ahab was a declaration: the drought had an expiration date, and God was still sovereign.

Seeing Elijah’s face also meant hearing God’s truth. Ahab had blamed Elijah for Israel’s trouble, but Elijah returned the charge: the real issue was disobedience. Rain would not fall simply because time had passed; it would fall because hearts were about to be challenged on Mount Carmel. Repentance would precede refreshment.

For believers today, this verse presses a question: what “face” must be seen before the rain comes? Is it the courage to speak truth, to reconcile, to forgive, or to obey a long-delayed call? God’s promise of rain still stands, but it often arrives on the heels of faithful obedience.

When Elijah stepped forward, the sky was still bronze. But heaven had already decided. The rain was coming—because a servant of God was willing to be seen and an impenitent king once again had to turn his face to God. It will not rain until we see His face.