Finding rest for your soul means quieting yourself before God and centering yourself. It’s a challenge for everyone, but peace requires it.
Here is my favorite, peaceful music.
On the urge to run. Away. Far away.
I’ll be honest: this week, I wanted to RUN. And while I was at it, I wanted it to be someplace warm and green. Hawaii. Florida, etc.
Hiding out in a cave is a great idea. And holy! The Prophet Elijah thought it up!
It might be a tiny bit dysfunctional. But it’s very tempting.
The cave idea didn’t come until later, but I could work with it. Throw a bear skin rug before the fire, and there you have it! That would be just fine!
I would need a pot of coffee. And a jug of cream, please!
The Prophet Elijah was running away also. A mad queen was determined to separate his head from the rest of his body. That could be troublesome, I suppose.
And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 Kings 19:9-10 NKJV
Some days, it does no good to deny the obvious.
Elijah was clearly in that place.
I think that’s why I love this story. It is so comforting!
Here is how God dealt with Elijah. And how he deals with us.
God seeks him out.
He goes to look for his friend.
When we feel completely alone, we aren’t. God is on his way. And he knows exactly where to look.
God gently asks him why.
And that’s where we start.
Why do we want to run? What’s going on in our situations and circumstances that cause us to want to flee?
He doesn’t belittle us.
He knows our reasons are valid.
We aren’t wimps. These are complicated, heartbreaking matters.
Honesty is required. Let’s put a name on this thing that haunts us.
And when Elijah does tell him, he gets it.
God doesn’t deny the complications and the difficult people around him. He doesn’t ask Elijah to deny his hardship.
He talks through the situation with Elijah—honest dialog with a massive amount of understanding and patience.
God takes the time to hear our heartbreak and our frustration. He shows compassion to us.
He shows Elijah himself.
I can’t help but think that it’s not so much that a friend fixes our problems but that the friend showed up.
It’s the person who shows up at funerals or when we are sick or desperate. It is their very presence that brings us comfort.
And this is what God did for Elijah. And what he does for us.
The Lord said to Elijah, “Go, stand in front of me on the mountain, and I will pass by you.” Then a very strong wind blew until it caused the mountains to fall apart and large rocks to break in front of 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. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle sound. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, “Elijah! Why are you here?”
I Kings 19:11-13 NKJV
God shows Elijah the whole picture.
He explains to Elijah that many people will protect him and fight against the bad guys. Elijah is not alone in his desire to do the right thing.
The queen is crazy. The bad guys are looking for him. And he’s got good people looking out for him. He shows him the whole picture.
This gives him options.
This gives me options.
The urge to run is natural. And even understandable. Possibly even justified. But will ultimately destroy us.
God coaxes us out of the cave and talks gently to us. He shows us our other options.
The fight is accurate, and the people are demanding, but God meets us where we are and gives us options we haven’t noticed yet.
Additional information to bring peace and mercy to your tired soul.
Be a Little Kinder to the Girl You Once Were. – (singlemomoutwest.com)
