Do - or - die

So, there’s Elijah, out from his place of protection, vulnerable to the threat of being murdered. All the people are beyond ‘hangry’ due to the famine. Oh yes, and he’s just challenged 450 prophets to a supernatural showdown after telling a whole nation off for not following God.

Clearly, there’s so much for Elijah to fear here. Feel familiar?

Whenever I’ve thought about "getting back out there", considered changing my relationship status, or even been dating, I’ve often been met with a torrent of fears and anxiety:

What if I’m always alone?

What I did before means I’ll never have a loving relationship.

What will they think when they really get to know me?

No doubt, we’d all prefer to avoid vulnerability. I’m sure Elijah feels the same! But he’s completely exposed – to his enemies, to ridicule, to God not answering his prayer.

Stepping out against fear leaves us feeling like we are on the top of Mount Carmel facing the crowds, being the only ones waiting on God to do something…

Elijah, though, lays aside his fears by acting anyway.

“ […]and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Notice the phrasing, “he is God.” Yes, this will be the title of the ‘winner’. I sense though that, deep down, Elijah is secretly smiling. He already knows the LORD himself; he knows He is God and He will be the one who will triumph. That’s the truth that we stand on too.

Do you trust God’s ability to come through for you?

Trusting God when we are afraid isn’t about blind faith, like tossing a coin into a fountain. Elijah makes this choice to trust after God gave him a promise:

“[…] present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”

Elijah challenges the nation with God’s words echoing in his ears.

“If God will send rain on the land, then He will surely…”

Still, it takes Elijah to forget his fears, even when there are 450+ of them staring at him, to make way for God’s next incredible display of faithfulness.

Fear tells us that we should give up now. Trust means facing fear based on God’s word against it.

Climbing up Mount Carmel without knowing the outcome and allowing God the space to show us what He can do.