I saw a fist-sized cloud,
rising small above the sea,
a whisper of hope in the horizon,
a promise God whispered to me.
I saw it in my desert place,
where the sand threatened to swallow me whole.
I thought I could not make it,
yet God held my hand and never let go.
He led me to oases,
waters that never run dry,
refreshing my soul,
healing my heart,
teaching me to trust in His timing.
I saw it in my pit,
pushed and forgotten by my own,
thinking I was truly alone.
But He reached in, lifted me up,
gave my life purpose,
and led me from darkness to light,
from sorrow to the palace of His presence.
I saw it in my prison,
where dreams felt buried and hope had faded.
I had no vision, no ambition, no joy.
Yet He poured hope into my hands,
broke down walls that bound me,
and filled my heart with song.
The small cloud became a storm of blessing,
reminding me that even the tiniest sign of God
carries the weight of His glory.
Several times I looked,
sometimes in doubt, sometimes in fear.
Several times He reminded me:
the promise is coming,
the breakthrough is near.
And when the cloud appeared,
small as a man’s hand,
I knew my God is faithful,
even when the skies seem empty,
even when the wait feels long,
even when my eyes see only desert.
The fist-sized cloud is enough,
for it carries His power,
His faithfulness,
His endless love.
It whispers,
“I am with you,
and I will never let go.”
Like many, I have walked on roads that were tough, winding, and seemingly endless. Roads that I thought would never get me anywhere. Roads that were dark, crooked, and full of potholes. At times, everything looked dreary and hopeless. Yet, even in the midst of it all, God was there.
Recently, I had a vision that reminded me of His constant presence. I saw a hand holding me. It began as a baby’s hand, small and tender, and at every crossroad it grew, growing with me, until I saw my own hand adorned with my wedding ring and bracelet. It was a powerful reminder that God has been with me through every moment, through the confusion, the struggle, and even the times I thought I was alone. He never let go.
This vision reminded me of Elijah and the story in 1 Kings 18:43-44:
“And [Elijah] said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And seven times he said, ‘Go again.’ Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, ‘There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!’ So he said, ‘Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'”
Elijah’s persistence in prayer is inspiring. He expected an answer and refused to stop praying until he saw the results. He sent his servant out seven times to look for signs of the coming rain. Six times there was nothing. Yet he did not give up. He trusted in God’s timing and His will. And on the seventh time, a small cloud appeared, as tiny as a man’s hand, rising from the sea.
Though it seemed insignificant at first, this small cloud was evidence of a mighty work to come. Elijah knew that even a small sign of God’s movement is enough to have great faith for a greater work. He acted in faith immediately, telling King Ahab to prepare, because the small cloud meant a torrent was on the way.
This story reminds me that God’s work in our lives often begins in ways that seem small or hidden. Our circumstances might feel like dry deserts, our prayers might seem unanswered, and our progress might feel invisible. But the hand of God is always there, guiding, sustaining, and growing with us. Just as the small cloud brought the downpour, the tiniest evidence of God moving in our lives is proof that greater blessings are on the way.
Faith is trusting in God’s presence, even when we cannot see the full picture. It is believing in the small signs, knowing that He will complete the work He has begun in us. And it is persistent, unwavering prayer, trusting that His timing is perfect.
Today, even if the evidence of God’s work seems small, like a cloud as tiny as a man’s hand, we can hold on to hope. Because with God, small beginnings often lead to mighty outcomes.
