Good Morning All,
Have
you ever heard Hank Williams Sr. sing?
He had a very distinctive country sound.
Yet it was actually a precursor to rock and roll. I like his song “I’m so Lonesome I could Cry.”
“Did
you ever see a robin weep when leaves begin to die? Like me, he's lost the will to live I'm so
lonesome I could cry.”
He sang of pain, being all alone, of being
completely isolated.
Our
text speaks to this very experience.
This text is part of the great manic-depressive life of the Old
Testament prophet Elijah. Immediately
before this text, Elijah performs a miracle with God’s grace. He defeats the false prophets and the people
rise up and kill them and begin to return to God. But the evil queen threatens Elijah and he
runs, runs fast and far. He hides in a
cave on a mountain and feared being the only believer left anywhere in the
world and they are trying to kill him.
God speaks to him in a still, quiet voice and asks him, “What are you
doing here?” Elijah responds with his
complaint to God essentially answering, “This is why I am here!”
There
are many ways to read this section of Scriptures. Here we see God prodding or maybe even
chiding Elijah a little. Why are you here,
Elijah? Elijah, after running non-stop
for three days finally answered. I am
all alone and they want to kill me as well.
Have
you ever felt that? All alone with
nowhere to turn. Perhaps God has even
asked you that question, “why are you here?”
I think it is essential that we answer that question, why are you
here? Why are you experiencing what you
are experiencing? What is going on? This helps us identify what is wrong. What is it that makes you feel like you are
all alone? Is it fear of death, fear of
abandonment, anxiety of events, pain from health issues; why are you here? God helps us by naming or identifying the
problem we face. When we do this, we
make it smaller and God helps us see that it is manageable. Because God offers hope. Immediately after this text, God tells Elijah
that there are 7,000 who are still believers.
In other words, “Elijah, you are not alone.”
When
we struggle with fear, pain, anxiety, or any other struggle, we are not
alone. God is with you and there are
many brothers and sisters who are there to offer help and comfort; use them and
trust God to bring you through by his grace.
Dearest Father, there are many times I feel
all alone and without hope. Yet you come
to me with your words of grace, your words of comfort. I am never alone. I am always your redeemed child. With this truth give me the Spirit to face
the struggles of today. Be with those
who are battling loneliness and pain today.
All this we ask in Jesus’ precious name, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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