Called
Read 1 Kings 19:15-21.
I nearly titled this entry, "How Elijah Got His Groove Back," but that sounded a bit too 1990's.
But it's true: this takes place after Elijah's famous meltdown, his deep depression after his greatest victory. This story follows up on what happened to Elijah in the cave, when God had to call him out and remind him of who and whose he was. I'm not knocking those who struggle with depression; I know many of us do. There are a lot of times we need counseling and even some medication to get our well-being back into balance. There is nothing wrong with that. Mental health is nothing to mess around with or discount.
But there have also been times where what I really needed was a good kick in the pants. Sometimes the best medicine is perspective. That's what Elijah needed here. He was feeling alone. He had convinced himself that he was the only one in all of Israel who still loved God. Elijah has faced down the prophets of Ba'al and won—spectacularly. But because a wicked queen threatened his life (and make no mistake, she had the power, the resources and the will to make good on her threat), he became convinced that no one else was standing with him.
God gives him space and time (quite a bit of time) to get away from the situation. Then, when he's ready to hear it, God gives him perspective. "You're not alone Elijah. There are still seven thousand others in Israel who love me, who haven't bowed to Ba'al." Then God gives Elijah specific instructions and some companions along the way. It's up to Elijah to communicate the call of God to those persons, which I think is God's way of getting Elijah off of his backside and into the game. "Anoint these people, Elijah. They will be your partners in the days to come."
I remember one morning, sitting the pastoral staff meeting at my first church, feeling upset about something. I can't even remember what now—that probably tells you how important it was! But at the time it was all-consuming. I was down, upset, frustrated with what was going on, feeling sorry for myself. In the midst of that staff meeting, though, I learned about a fellow staff member who had been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. And I felt God whispering to me, "There's someone you can serve. There's someone who will help take your eyes off of yourself." Not that it's ever a matter of playing the "oneupmanship" game, where one person's troubles are worse than another's. (That's a bad game to play.) But it was a reminder that my calling was to serve, that there were others who stand in suffering along with me, and that "poor me" is not a game anyone can win. Elijah needed that reminder; so did I.
Are there days I struggle with frustration, self-doubt and sadness? Absolutely. Are there days I simply don't want to serve others? Without question. That doesn't take away my calling. When I choose to serve, God always uses that to bless, encourage and strengthen me.
But it's true: this takes place after Elijah's famous meltdown, his deep depression after his greatest victory. This story follows up on what happened to Elijah in the cave, when God had to call him out and remind him of who and whose he was. I'm not knocking those who struggle with depression; I know many of us do. There are a lot of times we need counseling and even some medication to get our well-being back into balance. There is nothing wrong with that. Mental health is nothing to mess around with or discount.
But there have also been times where what I really needed was a good kick in the pants. Sometimes the best medicine is perspective. That's what Elijah needed here. He was feeling alone. He had convinced himself that he was the only one in all of Israel who still loved God. Elijah has faced down the prophets of Ba'al and won—spectacularly. But because a wicked queen threatened his life (and make no mistake, she had the power, the resources and the will to make good on her threat), he became convinced that no one else was standing with him.
God gives him space and time (quite a bit of time) to get away from the situation. Then, when he's ready to hear it, God gives him perspective. "You're not alone Elijah. There are still seven thousand others in Israel who love me, who haven't bowed to Ba'al." Then God gives Elijah specific instructions and some companions along the way. It's up to Elijah to communicate the call of God to those persons, which I think is God's way of getting Elijah off of his backside and into the game. "Anoint these people, Elijah. They will be your partners in the days to come."
I remember one morning, sitting the pastoral staff meeting at my first church, feeling upset about something. I can't even remember what now—that probably tells you how important it was! But at the time it was all-consuming. I was down, upset, frustrated with what was going on, feeling sorry for myself. In the midst of that staff meeting, though, I learned about a fellow staff member who had been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. And I felt God whispering to me, "There's someone you can serve. There's someone who will help take your eyes off of yourself." Not that it's ever a matter of playing the "oneupmanship" game, where one person's troubles are worse than another's. (That's a bad game to play.) But it was a reminder that my calling was to serve, that there were others who stand in suffering along with me, and that "poor me" is not a game anyone can win. Elijah needed that reminder; so did I.
Are there days I struggle with frustration, self-doubt and sadness? Absolutely. Are there days I simply don't want to serve others? Without question. That doesn't take away my calling. When I choose to serve, God always uses that to bless, encourage and strengthen me.
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