Simplicity is what I craved this morning. The funny thing is I didn’t realize it until I walked outside to put the Netflix movie in the mailbox. As I walked back into the house leaves fell all around me, gracefully hitting the ground, a cute little bird perched itself above me. I stood still and took a deep breath. I needed that this morning, to be still and enjoy the simplicity of life. But that’s not all I needed.
Good heavens life right now is crazy. Some days I can feel like I’m the only normal one on the planet. With talk of this and talk of that, it is hard to find simplistic stillness. It’s like bees are buzzing around my head, and some days honestly I just want to quit.
Elijah felt like this. He was on top of the world after what had just happened with Jezebel's prophets (1 Kings 18:20-40). But then word reached him that Jezebel wished him dead. In that moment the great prophet felt alone and scared. He thought he was the only one left who believed and served the Most High God. So, he ran, far, far away. It wouldn’t end this way for Him.
I love that even in his panic, God still loved him and cared for him. God sent an angel to feed him (twice) and was told to go to the mountain of God. Forty days and Forty nights Elijah traveled, constantly looking over his shoulder, the words of Jezebel still buzzing around his head.
Upon reaching the mountain of God the Lord came to him and said:
“What are you doing here?”
“Your children have forsaken you and killed your prophets. I alone am left…and they seek to take my life.”
Then, God, had Elijah stand out on the mountain. As he did, a great wind blew by, then a mighty earthquake shook the mountain, next a fire came upon the mountain but the Lord was not found. But then once everything was still God spoke in a still small voice.
The next thing God does is amazing. He doesn’t condemn Elijah for being afraid and running for his life. No, God gives Elijah his next mission and then ends it with this encouraging word:
“Yet I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
With his next assignment and his faith in God restored Elijah did all that God told him, with clarity.
I have felt like Elijah this morning. I felt like running, I felt like I was the only one left. But when I disconnected from all the voices, options and crap all around me I could hear God again in the stillness, in the simple things like the falling leaves around me. Then like Elijah, I can continue on to the next thing and do it with clarity, because I have heard God in the stillness.
Don’t feel bad for feeling like this either. I did for a second (before I found God in the whisper), the enemy tried to tell me I was weak. But then I heard “Hear me in the stillness”. This wasn’t a shame on you Janell, your failing! It was an invitation to do something about how I was feeling, to choose the higher truth. To become more like Jesus. You haven’t failed. You only fail if you don’t move forward.
I encourage you today to go your “mountain” and listen. Unplug and hear His heart. Know that you are not alone in this life. Don’t believe that lie like Elijah. God is good and He is never taken back.
Yes, this life is crazy, but my God is always there. He isn’t angry or disappointed. He lifts us up and reminds us that He is in the stillness and that we are not alone.
