GUIDANCE IN THE MIDST OF TURMOIL

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. —I Kings 19:3-5

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” —I Kings 19:9

             Elijah just saw our Lord work powerfully on Mount Carmel (I Kings 18:16) and when the people saw this “they fell facedown and said, ‘The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!’”  But when—

“Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!” —I Kings 19:1-2

             Elijah did not consult our Lord about this.  Instead, he “was afraid and ran for his life” (I Kings 19:3).  He went a day’s journey from Beersheba toward the Negev desert in southern Israel. 

“When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.”

             He was discouraged and just wanted to sleep.  He just wanted to die.  He had just “had enough.”  Our Lord sent an angel to him twice to minister to him with food and drink.  After that, he was “strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” (I Kings 19:8).  From Mount Carmel to Mount Horeb is 418 miles!  On Mount Horeb “Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (I Kings 19:9).  After Elijah said, “I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well” (I Kings 19:10), the Lord said to him, in “a still small voice, what are you doing here, Elijah.”  Our Lord sent him back with specific ministry to do.

             Discouragement can bring us far from the place our Lord wants us to be in service to Him.  We can be thankful that He gives grace and is patient with us.  When Elijah fled for his life, our Lord did not abandon him.  He still ministered to him through angels and waited for the right time, His time, when Elijah was ready to listen and then sent him on mission.  Praise God for His mercy.

             Yes ago, I went through a very difficult ministry situation.  It very much impacted me and my family.  I was never going to go into “full time” ministry again.  I was still involved in ministry in various ways and still shared the gospel regularly with people.  God was patient with me and one day, a cold and rainy raw October day, I was standing in mud in a ditch working on a water main.  The words came, “What are you doing here.”  After talking with Elaine about it, our Lord immediatey opened up the opportunity to go back into “full time” ministry.

             Maybe you are discouraged right now because of major changes in your life.  Be patient and allow our Lord to work in your life.  At the right time He will give you direction.  He has promised— “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).  Yes, Dear Father, may we trust You to guide us according to Your time and may we do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFopTwDHWPc&list=RDzFopTwDHWPc&start_radio=1