I Kings 19:1-18
Many commentators and preachers are amazed when they see the great Prophet Elijah in the condition he is in here in this chapter. He had just vanquished the worshipers of Baal, ended a 3-year drought, and started a revival in the nation of Israel. But he is discouraged, even to the place that he wishes he would just die. What catches the attention of so many as we study this part of the Bible, is that it happens to us also. This is where we see human vulnerability in its most honest times.
Where have you felt like Elijah—alone, exhausted, ready to give up? It happens to each of us. It is part of our human experience. What surprises me is the way God deals with Elijah. He is not condemned or judged for feeling this way. He is not chastised for not keeping his faith strong. God cares for the prophet, be giving him rest, refreshment, and restoration. Elijah finds himself away from the threats and dangers, and alone with God. In his depression, God gives him a revelation of who God is. Not a wildfire, not a raging wind, not even an earthquake, but a sound of shear silence, or a “still, small voice.”
When we come to the end of ourselves, we want God to do something miraculous, earthshaking so that our problems disappear. Though that is rarely how God works. God works through his presence in the quiet places, his voice in the silence, and his assurance that he is with us. Maybe when we come to the end of ourselves it is for us to just be quiet and listen for the assurances of God.
When you are tempted to say, “Woe is me!” Rest, refresh, and let God restore you with the encouragement you need to finish the tasks that God has for you.
Pastor Greg
