Glory in Our Droughts

 
I struggle with change. Especially if I’m not expecting it.
 
Four years ago my family was suddenly faced with unexpected changes outside of our control. It caused a spiritual drought in my life. I was confused, hurt, and heartbroken. I felt like I was grasping for water.
 
For the first time ever that I could remember, I felt completely helpless. I found myself second-guessing every choice we had made. It seemed every time we would get through one change and feel like we were on level ground again, something else would come along that would shake us.
 
With each heartbreaking change, I felt myself take a step back from Jesus. Instead of allowing God to pull me closer and use this time to grow me, I pushed back.

I was just plain mad at God.
 
My spiritual drought lasted a year and a half, until I finally came to the end of myself. Eventually I ran out of strength, and turned to God to help me.
 
Looking back I can clearly see that this drought could have been more fruitful had I leaned on God from the beginning. Just like how in 1 Kings 17, Elijah used a drought to try to turn King Ahab and Israel back to God, and away from their wickedness. King Ahab was, up until that point, the most evil king Israel had ever had. Much of Israel had turned to worshipping Baal, the “god of the sky,” who they believed controlled the weather. So Elijah told King Ahab that there would be no rain for the foreseeable future, except at Elijah’s word.
 
For three and a half years Elijah prayed to God for no rain, hoping to make Israel and King Ahab realize their “god” was no god at all. God held back the rain, hoping His people would turn back to Him. Instead, the Israelites ran further away.
 
Elijah called the King and all his false prophets to Mount Carmel for a final showdown. Each side would build an altar, and on each altar would be a bull. Both sides would call to their god and whichever god answered by sending fire would be declared the “real deal.”
 
After a long day of calling to Baal, the prophets of Ahab gave up. That’s when Elijah stepped in, prepared his sacrifice, covered it with gallons of water, and prayed to the One True God to send down fire.
 
The fire came, and the people of Israel called out “The Lord — He is God!” Elijah had accomplished what he had set to do. The people returned to the Lord (albeit not for long).
 
Immediately after the people declared the Lord as their God, Elijah prayed for rain, and it came. The Israelites could have avoided three-and-a-half years of hunger, thirst, sickness and death had they only turned to Him sooner.
 
Droughts are bound to happen in our lives, but it is how we handle them that will matter. Will we allow God to use them to bring us closer toHim, or will we allow them to drive us from Him?
 
God allowed the drought for the same reason He allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert: to teach them to fully rely on nothing and no one but Him. 
 
Do you find yourself, today, in the middle of a drought season? Now is the time to lean in to Him. 
 
Don’t allow anger to drive you away, like I did. God used the three and a half year drought in Israel to bring the whole nation back to him. What will you allow him to do through yours today?

About the Author

Hi! I’m Tara McGill. I am a wife to my amazing husband Jay. We live in the great state of Georgia where we raise our two children, Jayden (4) and Brooks (2). I enjoy spending quality time with my family and traveling. I am passionate about sharing Jesus and connecting women with other women who are also passionate about Jesus.

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