RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “[Elijah]...sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’” 1 Kings 19:4b, ESV
Theme: To handle the lows of life, sit down, think awhile, and cry out authentically to the Lord.
THE BLUES
Can you relate to Elijah? First, he had a showdown with the forces of evil. Then, he had the amazing mountaintop (literally!) experience of seeing God work in miraculous ways, defeating the prophets of Baal in a blaze of God’s holy fire. The people devoted to God captured the priests of Baal and killed them. Finally, Elijah prays for an end of the drought that he had proclaimed (1 Kings 17:1) and the rain fell.
After the showdown on Mount Carmel, King Ahab reported all this to his wife. Jezebel then sent a threat back to Elijah: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (1 Kings 19:2b, NIV).
The next two verses tell us he “ran for his life.” Then he sat down under a bush and “he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers’” (1 Kings 19:3-4, ESV).
HIGHS AND LOWS
The day after a big fun weekend, an enormous success, or a major victory are tough. We are tired and it doesn’t take much to throw us off our stride. “Fatigue makes cowards of us all,” according to Vince Lombardi.
Failures can do this, also. Think back to the last time you worked hard at something, but it didn’t succeed. When your project falls apart, despite your best efforts, it’s frustrating to say the least.
Whatever the situation, whether victory or defeat, the mood swings can be weak points in our armor. We can feel proud and forget to give God the glory. We can feel worthless, and no longer find our value and purpose in Him. But God is faithful, steadfast, and sure. You can depend on Him, no matter what your emotions tell you.
Oh, and Elijah? He was real with God. He complained. “He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away’” (I Kings 19:10, ESV). The truth of the matter that there remained “seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18b, ESV) and Elijah was not alone. Don’t let your feelings exaggerate the truth. Although your feelings are valid, spiritual truth is found in Him.
Make it Personal: As a Jesus-follower, ask yourself: “What can I learn from this experience? Did I have God’s will in mind, or my own? Are my feelings telling me the truth about this situation?” Perhaps your contribution was only a piece of the plan, and someone else was used to bring it to success. Maybe the mistakes that caused the project to fail were not yours. Now, you must let it go and move on. Thank God for knowing the big picture; thank Him for using you. Ask Him to steady your emotions, show you your value in His eyes, and humble you if necessary.
Pray: Lord, I want to live my life in Your presence. I want Your truth to be the guide for my emotions. Show me Your plan and Your love. In Your Name I pray, amen.
Read: 1 Kings 18:17-19:4; Isaiah 55:8-13; Romans 12:2
Weekly Memory Verse: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9, ESV