Then the Lord spoke his word to him: "Elijah! Why are you here?"
Elijah was hiding in a cave, fearful, discouraged, and
confused.
Why?
Elijah knew God and had seen God do mighty things, even in
answer to his own prayers. Yet he was human, just like the rest
of us.
JAMES 5:17 NCV ~ Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed
that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three
and a half years!
Elijah had only one real problem, and it was not the
adversaries he faced. It was that he got his focus off of God
and onto himself.
To me, God seems amazed at Elijah's hiding. I picture Him
thinking, "Doesn't Elijah know that I am greater than all his
adversaries? Doesn't Elijah know that I will help him?"
I would paraphrase the verse above as, "What in the world are
you doing here, Elijah? Have you forgotten who your God is?
Have you forgotten who you are, a servant of Almighty God?"
Elijah was human -- just like us -- and we face the same
difficulties in life. But just like Elijah, our real problem is
not the problems we face -- but our focus.
We can focus on our inability and lack, or we can focus on
God's ability and abundant provision.
Are you hiding in a "cave" today, afraid to venture forth and
face life? Are you afraid of failure and rejection? Are you
discouraged because things haven't worked out like you thought
they would?
What are you doing?! Get out of your "cave!"
God is on your side. The Greater One is in you. The Lord is
your helper. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you.
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
Taken from Daily Devotion
Blessings!
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2 comments:
Oh Cheryl...I have found myself in a cave too before- and never realized that I had "run straight" into it all by myself!
I loved this devotion :)
I would love for you to meet a dear friend and sister in the LORD--she has JUST started blogging and I put a little welcome on my blog for her. She lives here---but previously lived in OK ---(I think)...she is VERY sweet. You will love her too! She is just learning this bloggity world and is a bit nervous about it all-=--but still excited about getting started....she has a Sister's of Faith heart!
intrestingly enough, I just posted on my "wrong focus season" on my blog & intrestingly as well, today a man who is building a church in Mexico was at our church seeking support for his "Pastor's retreat" wing. He used this same story to talk about how God's servants can get burnt out. The Pastors down there work hard labor 60 hours a week and then pastor a church or two. He wants to refresh them...
just as God sent the angel to refresh Elijah when he was burnt out (from being human as you stated)
we so need encouragement like you gave here!
Thanks!
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