1Ki 18:46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, …, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. (NIV)
Elijah with confidence believed God to perform according to His Word. The small cloud, the size of a man’s hand convinced him that God had answered his prayer and it was about to pour. He bid king Ahab to run ahead on his chariot. God on the other hand gave Elijah more than natural strength to outrun Ahab’s chariot already a head of him. An old man received strength not of his own to accomplish the impossible.
In prayers, God gives extraordinary strength to endure in prayers, and strength to outrun even the best the world can offer. Isa 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” They that rely upon Him shall grow stronger and stronger. The former strength gets exhausted, grace supplies fresh needed strength to strive beyond human strength.