What does 1 Kings 18:43 mean?

He told his servant, 'Go and look out toward the sea.' The servant went and looked, then came back and said, 'I don’t see anything.' Elijah said, 'Go back and check again.' He told him to do this seven times. 1 Kings 18:43 - Modern Text Bible

(Elijah keeps sending his servant to look for any sign of rain, showing persistent faith even when nothing seems to be happening.)