From Disillusion to Prayer
Elijah is in a bad place: Having conquered the prophets of Baal on mount Horeb, he is served a determined death-threat by queen Jezebel and flees for his life. Elijah is overwrought, overstrained, and burnt out. We find the prophet who stood up against the prophets of Baal in chapter 18 asking to die in chapter 19. He is in a place we've all been in at one time or another.God deals very gently with Elijah. First he feeds him a few simple meals and gets him to rest. (This is one of the first things to do for people who suffer from burnout-depression). Then came the long walk to Horeb, just simple mechanical routine, one foot in front of the other - nothing complex or overloading - another important part of healing from burnout.
At Horeb God asks the question. "What are you doing here Elijah?" Elijah's answer is like a knee-jerk reaction - he lists his woes but there is no real sense of relief.
Then God treats Elijah to a show of natural phenomena: Wind, Earthquake, and Fire. (Maybe all of these served as symbols of Elijah's inner turmoil) After these tempestuous occurrences came the still small voice and Elijah now knew (like he knew like he knew) that God was listening. And then came the same question "What are you doing here Elijah?"
God asks the same question twice: - "What are you doing here Elijah?" And Elijah uses the same words both times when he answers. The difference is in the implied tone of voice. The first time the answer comes from a heart that is blown about, shaken up, and burnt out. The second time the answer comes from someone who has seen the wind, earthquake, and fire being stilled by the Significant voice.
Prayer is the certain knowledge that no matter what our circumstances, no matter what chaos may abound, no matter what the uncertainty, no matter how loud the noise of our pain might be, there is a God who speaks with a small still voice and who listens to our prayer.
Prayer is learning to hear that voice in the midst of our circumstances and to give Him our pain and heartache.
| 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?" (1Kings19:12-13) |
