Moments of power, moments of quiet and still
"There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He said, 'I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.' And he said, 'Go out and stand on the the mount before the LORD.' And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper [a sound, a thin silence]. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.' And the LORD said to him, 'Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. . . . .Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." 1 Kings 19:1-15, 18
Elijah was soo wrapped up in his problems, so in his own head, that he didn't hear the voice of God. He didn't take the time to stop and remember who God was. He couldn't see how big and great his God was. YAWEH had just delivered him and put His power on display by triumphing over the prophets of Baal in a very powerful showdown on Mt. Carmel and Elijah is so quick to forget. And yet, even this incredibly powerful God is a person being. He is relational and intensely interested in us.
Twice God asks him what he's doing by hiding in a cave. God's seeking to gently remind him Who he is serving. He's asking Elijah to remember who his God is and the job that his God has given and empowered him to.
Elijah's response is to complain and tell God how good life isn't! He's complaining how God is not taking care of His prophet very well, after all that Elijah has done for Him. He thinks that he is indispensable to God, and surely God knows that He can't do His work without him and God better come through soon or all His plans will be for nought! I think that way sometimes, don't you? Aren't we tempted to think that God needs us and if we're in danger, we better let him know, just in case He missed the fact. (It reminds me of the response of the disciples on the sea of Galilee during the storms - "Save us or we will perish!")
God does not miss anything. When we succumb to the mentality that our problems and limitations are bigger than God can handle, that He's not really being very good to us, that He doesn't really care about our problems (but we'll remind Him just in case, so that He knows that we're dealing with something that's too hard for Him to handle, just to rub it in his face, so to speak), it is we who are missing something. We are missing the reality that our limitations do not limit God. Our problems do not negate His love for us.
Do you ever complain like that? Do you ever complain about your problems more to rehearse them to yourself, yet knowing that God does hear? Wallowing in our own self-pity can feel so good (misery can feel soo comfortable).
When we do, we are missing how great and capable and caring our heavenly Father is. We're missing the reality of His presence in our problems, His gentle and quiet love in our pain, and His ability to provide in our need. His promises never disappear. His character does not change, nor does His heart toward us. He is for us! (Romans 8:31) He is for us even when we are wallowing in our self-pity and bemoaning our limitations. Don't get me wrong, God does not condone our sin, but neither does his heart of love change toward us when we do. Our sin breaks our fellowship but it never severs the bond between Father and child. He loves perfectly and He will not let us go!
When you are tempted to complain, to see your problems as being too big for God to handle, stop and start listing His promises. Write them down. Say them out loud. Start reminding yourself of His hear toward you and why that is so. Hint, it has to do with His Son. (Romans chapter 8 is a great place to start!)
What promises of His have been especially needed and powerful for you right now? Why?
Elijah was soo wrapped up in his problems, so in his own head, that he didn't hear the voice of God. He didn't take the time to stop and remember who God was. He couldn't see how big and great his God was. YAWEH had just delivered him and put His power on display by triumphing over the prophets of Baal in a very powerful showdown on Mt. Carmel and Elijah is so quick to forget. And yet, even this incredibly powerful God is a person being. He is relational and intensely interested in us.
Twice God asks him what he's doing by hiding in a cave. God's seeking to gently remind him Who he is serving. He's asking Elijah to remember who his God is and the job that his God has given and empowered him to.
Elijah's response is to complain and tell God how good life isn't! He's complaining how God is not taking care of His prophet very well, after all that Elijah has done for Him. He thinks that he is indispensable to God, and surely God knows that He can't do His work without him and God better come through soon or all His plans will be for nought! I think that way sometimes, don't you? Aren't we tempted to think that God needs us and if we're in danger, we better let him know, just in case He missed the fact. (It reminds me of the response of the disciples on the sea of Galilee during the storms - "Save us or we will perish!")
God does not miss anything. When we succumb to the mentality that our problems and limitations are bigger than God can handle, that He's not really being very good to us, that He doesn't really care about our problems (but we'll remind Him just in case, so that He knows that we're dealing with something that's too hard for Him to handle, just to rub it in his face, so to speak), it is we who are missing something. We are missing the reality that our limitations do not limit God. Our problems do not negate His love for us.
Do you ever complain like that? Do you ever complain about your problems more to rehearse them to yourself, yet knowing that God does hear? Wallowing in our own self-pity can feel so good (misery can feel soo comfortable).
When we do, we are missing how great and capable and caring our heavenly Father is. We're missing the reality of His presence in our problems, His gentle and quiet love in our pain, and His ability to provide in our need. His promises never disappear. His character does not change, nor does His heart toward us. He is for us! (Romans 8:31) He is for us even when we are wallowing in our self-pity and bemoaning our limitations. Don't get me wrong, God does not condone our sin, but neither does his heart of love change toward us when we do. Our sin breaks our fellowship but it never severs the bond between Father and child. He loves perfectly and He will not let us go!
When you are tempted to complain, to see your problems as being too big for God to handle, stop and start listing His promises. Write them down. Say them out loud. Start reminding yourself of His hear toward you and why that is so. Hint, it has to do with His Son. (Romans chapter 8 is a great place to start!)
What promises of His have been especially needed and powerful for you right now? Why?
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