Why WorryShembull

PRAYER:

God, I place my concerns in Your hands today. Help me to always remember Your faithfulness so I can have courage to face the challenges of tomorrow.

READING:

Now and Then – Part 3

Today we finish our story about Elijah. He was hiding out in a cave from people who wanted to kill him, and God had asked him what he was doing there, so far away from where he was supposed to be. Elijah offered an explanation, feeling justified in his reasons for running away.

Then God asked Elijah to do something.

“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by…’” – 1 Kings 19:11

But Elijah didn’t obey God. He just stayed in the cave.

“… Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before 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 came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” – 1 Kings 19:11–13

God asked again what Elijah was doing there. And Elijah gave the same speech again.

“He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’” – 1 Kings 19:14

If God didn’t exist and hadn’t done everything He already did for Elijah, his explanation would have been understandable. But Elijah had forgotten to factor in God. He was looking through the lens of circumstances. For him, there was no purpose and no hope.

“The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.’” – 1 Kings 19:15–16

As God revealed to Elijah what He wanted him to do, it became clear that God had a plan, a solution. There was a purpose and a future. God hadn’t abandoned Elijah and hadn’t given up on him. He was still God. 

“‘Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’” – 1 Kings 19:17–18

Elijah had run because he thought he was the only one left, but he wasn’t. He thought he knew everything there was to know, but he didn’t. 

Most of us, like Elijah, have enough history with God that there’s really no excuse for us to be in a place where we have no business being, a place we’ve allowed worry to take us. God is still in control. And He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Take God’s advice to Elijah—and get back to where you were. Face your tomorrow with confidence that God is there.

As Jesus taught, and as Elijah learned the hard way, we’re simply to do what we know to do today and trust God with tomorrow. And when we do that, there’s really no reason to worry.

REFLECTION:

In times of uncertainty, how can you choose to respond in a way that displays your faith in God? Decide to do all you can do today and trust God for your tomorrow.  

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