Israel's spirtual state was lower than low.  God sent Elijah to give Israel a wake up call by bringing severe drought to the land.

Eventually God sent rain once again but in a way that King Ahab knew that it is God who provided it and not Ahab's god of Baal.  Elijah experienced God's power in many ways:  personally sustained thru the drought, raising the widow's son from the dead, fire falling from heaven consuming the sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, rain returning, out racing a chariot for 20 miles on foot...  And then in a tragic turnaround he began to despair.  So having come thru a physical drought he entered a spiritual drought.  Elijah illustrates the spiritual principle that we can not serve in the strength of past performances.  With each new morning, each new task, we must rely on new nourishment from God's Spirit and Word.  There is no coasting on past conquests for God's children.  As Philippians 2:12, 13 says... continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.