Conversations in a Caveনমুনা

THE MIRACLE OF ISOLATION

When God asks Elijah why he was in the cave, God already knew why he was there. God allows Elijah to do a self-evaluation and becomes Elijah’s counselor. Elijah begins to recount his past, his life, his enemies, and he continues the rhetoric about his current state of affairs. He rehearses his accounts and comes to the conclusion that he has lived his life under a threat. 

For most of us, when we recount our lives, we realize that while we’ve survived, we have lived most of our lives under a threat. It is not easy to live knowing that there are those that seek your life. Elijah has lived most of his life on the run and now he is stuck in a situation he cannot get out of. He’s been able to escape every other situation and God had always sent a miracle on his behalf, but it is always uncomfortable to be stuck when you have always been able to escape.

Psychologists have concluded that it is not isolation itself that is damaging, but the perception of isolation that takes a toll. Perceived isolation is thought to be twice as harmful as actual isolation. Like Jacob, we wrestle when we are alone.

The real question becomes, “who are you, alone?” The Word wants to get to who you are when no one’s looking. The Word wants to deal with your uncertainties, your insecurities, and your vulnerabilities. It is okay that you can call down fire from heaven, preach the paint off walls and sing like angels! This is not about your gift or your talent; this is about you!

Elijah’s disdain for his position in the cave inserted that he felt he should not have to experience what he was going through when he said, “I, even I, only am left...” God begins dealing with Elijah from that perspective. 

How wonderful it is to know that God always knows where we are. In those moments of isolation, when God is revealing yourself to you, He is also revealing Himself to you. He is more present in our uncertainties and insecurities and vulnerabilities than He is when we feel as though we have it all together. Although devoid of human interaction, Elijah was never alone. He was talking to God, who was in the cave with him. The miracle of isolation is you are never really alone.