A question from God and prayer requests

 

In today's world, do you feel small? 

Inconsequential?

Alone?

Do you even feel rejected? Ineffective?

Ahem.

You ain't the only one! (Grin)

I'm just going to pick one lonely, depressed person to talk about, even though there are more examples for us than just this fellow. We can see him sitting morosely in a cave. His head is in his hands, and he's feeling pitiful, to put it mildly. When he does look about, it's to look outside the cave opening to see if anyone has pursued him this far . . . . 

Know who I'm describing? 

Yep. Elijah.

Let's read . . . .

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:9b-18)

There's a lot here for us . . . . first of all, have we felt like Elijah lately? There's a lot going on in our world, especially in the United States, where a new administration has enabled a lot of changes being made. Many of the changes will have terrible economic effects. Many others are going to affect our spiritual wellbeing, constrict our freedoms, and revolutionize the ways that we relate to each other. It's in these realms that we may feel depressed and ineffective. "What can one person do?"

After all, the changes that we are watching seem like tsunami waves of wickedness and corruption. Much like the persecution that Elijah experienced. Much like the tremendously powerful wind, earthquake, and fire that God showed to Elijah. 

God showed him graphically that even if the great works are about to swamp us; even if they are allowed by God (in order to destroy the ungodly or to refine the godly) His greatest work is in the "still, small voice." His most effective (and incredible) work is done in the background, as He works His salvation and gives His grace to people. 

I think that in this situation, God would have us answer the question that He asked of Elijah. It was so important that He asked it TWICE. 

"What are you doing here?"

God then gave Elijah a job to do. And He reminded Elijah that while he was having his pity party, there were seven thousand faithful people left in Israel that he'd forgotten about. 

He wasn't the only one. He was a part of the fellowship of the faithful. God would rebuild His people from that group.

I like the story of Elijah because God didn't just give up on him. He was so very patient with Elijah, even though Elijah was foolish and had given up ---- it gives me assurance that God will also be patient with me when I'm foolish. Just like Elijah, I have seen God's power and providence, too. Maybe I haven't seen a roaring fire from heaven, but I have truly observed His action in my own life, as He has answered my prayers and provided for me each and every day. Even the days that I feel like giving up.

Recently I was despairing for my country, as I saw executive order after executive order taking away the progress that we had made. As I saw people on the opposite side of me politically who hated me simply for my views. Who felt I didn't deserve the freedoms that we enjoy here, because I did not agree with them. To say that I was blue would be to put it mildly.

But then, the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder. "You are NOT alone."

A phone call and a follow up email revealed to me a group of local patriots who are working to preserve our freedoms. They are working on a strategy and a schedule that will help us educate citizens to the freedoms that seem to be falling through our fingers, and that will help us close our fingers collectively and hold on to those freedoms. A group that feels, as I do, that we simply MUST show an alternative to the hate and revulsion the "other side" feels. That we must continue to disagree pleasantly. That we should continue to say, "Yes, you have a right to feel and say that. But here is why I disagree."

Winston Churchill once said, "Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it."

And Nehemiah, a great leader long before Churchill said:

 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14)

It's going to take courage.

It's going to take prayer.

But we are NOT alone! 

(I hope that everyone who pauses here will covenant with me to pray for our countries and our leaders. And that if you have a prayer request, you will let us know in the comments and allow us to pray with you. Blessings to all, and let's get on our knees! Let's talk to God, and then get up with a smile!)