And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth year the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain.
Note that the relief of the drought was not instantaneous. The rain returned in the year following the people's repentance, and they still had to wait for the season of grain and harvest. Our sins may leave us with natural consequences that we have to endure even after we have sincerely repented and been forgiven. We still live in a natural world. We cannot expect instant fixes to all our problems. Guilt can be swept away quickly, but consequences may still have to take their natural course. Christ's atonement will eventually right every wrong and heal every wound, but in our natural, fallen world, some consequences are allowed temporarily to persist.
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