running away

“ God, I wish I could die” – how often do you hear that phrase? How often do you say that?

I know for some people it is about feeling there is nothing more to life, that they are getting old and more frail. But that isn’t the case for Elijah.  When Elijah says : ‘Lord, take away my life’ , life has become too hard. He has tried to be true to God, but everywhere he turns there is another battle to fight, and he has had enough.  He feels like a failure. He feels like he alone. He is defending God and speaking for God and no-one is taking any notice, and no matter what he does it just isn’t getting any better, and now ….. and now Jezebel wants him dead, he is a marked man.  If this was a Western movie, his face would be on the wanted poster. You could make this a Western, good guy, white hat, comes to town to sort out the baddies, kills quite a few of them, but everyone is scared to be with him, as the bad guys, in black hats, are looking to kill him or anyone who helps him. You get the picture.

Elijah feels alone. When we have something difficult to do, it helps if there are other people standing with us, other people working at the same task, or at least offering encouragement. That is one of the advantages of being part of a congregation, we can encourage each other; and we do that through prayer, and through listening, and through working together. Meeting together we sing and pray and hear the Scriptures; but just the fact of meeting with other Christians, of recognising that we are not in fact the ‘only’ person who believes in God, helps us when we take a stand.

I wonder have you ever felt  like no one really knows you?

I wonder have you ever felt isolated?

Elijah ran away in fear, and eventually sleeps. When he awakes there is food and drink, for the journey. God does not reprimand him for running away.

After a  long time, well 40 days and nights which  means a long time, Elijah comes to the mountain of God – the same mountain that Moses saw the Burning Bush – so something amazing is likely to happen. [Note when you are reading the Bible what happens when people go up mountains], in our Western it would be time for the dramatic music.

And something special does happen on the mountain. Elijah stops running, stops still, breathes listens. I don’t know about you, but when I get stressed about something, no matter how small, it goes round and round in my mind, and grows more terrifying and more difficult to see a possible way through.

For Elijah it was the noise of the earthquake wind and fire, but for many of us, the noises that stop us hearing God are televisions, radio, iPods and computers, or constant busyness, a brain without an off switch.   

What are the words, phrases or worries that cloud your mind, and keep it busy?

 Prayer

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am God

O God of the still, small voice,

quiet our inner spirit.
Help us to focus upon You,  
to hear Your voice within.

I am the Lord that healeth thee

I am the Lord that healeth thee
I am the Lord that healeth thee

There are so many other voices demanding our attention.

But we cannot attend to them without You....

In thee O Lord do I put my trust

In thee O Lord do I put my trust
In thee O Lord do I put my trust

In weakness, be our strength.

In poverty, be our wealth.
In depression, be our joy.
In apathy, be our love.

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am God

Amended ~ posted on My Redeemer Lives website. http://www.myredeemerlives.com/prayers.html

On the mountain, Elijah stops running, from Jezebel, and from being a prophet. On the mountain, Elijah stops and meets with God, is reminded of God’s presence, God’s call on his life and God sends Elijah back with work to do.

Elijah’s journey goes from running away from Jezebel in fear of his life; and becomes a time to meet with God, to be nurtured, to have his call affirmed.

We don’t have to go on a long trip to be nurtured and encouraged in our faith journey.

[Singing: Wellsprings by Don Stewart]