Finding the Light in SuicideНамуна

DAY 5

YOUR PURPOSE

Welcome back; today is day five of our week’s study on suicide. I know that word carries a lot of weight. The story of Elijah, which we are studying this week, expresses how much weight it carries. We have read about Elijah’s victory, and as it turns to his darkest moment, he asks for death.

We have read God responded to Elijah’s request with strength. Just yesterday, as we were waiting for God’s BIG answer to the darkest struggle, we saw God show up in a whisper to Elijah.

Today we will find out what God says in that whisper. Let’s read verses 13-18 in 1 Kings 19. Now, it will sound familiar because yesterday’s verses are repeated here:

13 Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 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.” 15 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. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 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. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Now, God’s same question and Elijah’s same answer as our verse started yesterday, perhaps placing emphasis on Elijah’s physical and mental state at this point.

He was isolated, one of the only ones to follow God during his time, and he was frustrated. Elijah was yearning for the Lord as he ran for his life. Yet, God said in His whisper, “Go back.” He said return to your path; this is your purpose. You are to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha.

Elijah was to perform this anointing, and God forecasted what would occur because of it. I am sure Elijah did not understand his purpose in anointing; however, it did set off a chain of events for God.

I leave you with this: God is in your darkest moments, supplying you with strength, whispering through all the noise darkness holds.

I pray you can quiet those noises as you stand vulnerably with the Lord because He says there is a purpose for your life.

I’ll see you tomorrow. There’s more to your purpose than you realize.

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