After Prophet Sulaiman passed away, the Children of Israel began to stray. Some groups began worshipping an idol called Ba'al — a large gold statue. Allah sent Prophet Ilyas to bring them back.
Ilyas said: "Will you not be mindful? Will you worship Ba'al and forsake the best of Creators — Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors?" (As-Saffat: 124–126)
They refused. They even cast out Ilyas. So Allah sent a trial: a long drought for 3.5 years. Plants died, livestock died, wells dried up.
After long suffering, some of Ilyas's people finally returned to Allah. They sought Ilyas to ask for prayer. Ilyas prayed, and Allah sent heavy rain.
Most still kept worshipping Ba'al. Allah praised Ilyas in the Qur'an and counted him among the righteous.
For children: sometimes Allah sends difficulty so we return to remembering Him. Rain that's late, food that's scarce — that too is Allah's way of calling us.