Enough, Lord!

By: Patricia Nordman
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:40:01
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

"He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. `I have had enough, Lord,' he said. `Take my life...'" (1 Kings 19:4 NIV).

This is a remarkable chapter in the Bible. We think of Elijah as a rugged individualist and the strong prophet of the Lord. Now here we have the eminent Elijah sinking from triumph to despair! We find that he is subject to the human emotions we all feel at times. Who of us has not said, "I have had enough of this!" But God doesn't answer this prayer; instead, He sends an angel, not once but twice, to Elijah to feed him. When Elijah is strong again, he travels on to Mt. Horeb--and then he hides in a cave! How human!

God isn't going to let him get away with that, either. "What are you doing here, Elijah, so far away from your duties? What are you doing here, Elijah, you of all My people who should have remained at your post? My past compassions to you should have strengthened and served you especially for a time such as this." God understands when we cry out in exhaustion and heartache and despair. The strain of Mount Carmel,

Jezebel's threat to kill him, and utter fatigue, simply overwhelmed Elijah. Elijah's heart withered at the thought that he had failed, so he headed for a cave, and God loved him still. Just as God brought Elijah out of the cave of his anguish, so God will bring us out of the darkness of our personal cave into His light once again (Psalm 18:28). Elijah thought his labor was useless; that it had come to nothing. Those with the highest and holiest purposes are often the very ones who experience such intense dejection and rejection.

A saint left this thought with us: "So, in the Lord's ministry, the nucleus of the Church was not found in the applauding multitudes on Olivet, but in the few faithful ones in the garden of Gethsemane." Sometimes we have to enter the cave for the contrast of light and darkness, and then come out for an even better perspective and service for our Lord.

One of the lessons I digested from this wonderful chapter is that God is very concerned about our physical welfare. He sent an angel to refresh Elijah with food and sleep, and God sends us an angel to refresh us. After our son's death I lost my appetite for a while, which is normal. When I read this particular chapter, I realized that God is telling us that He wants us to keep up our strength for He has special plans for us. Indeed, in the loving friends who come with physical and spiritual sustenance for us, God is sending His angels!

O Father, thank You for the angels You send every day to minister to us. And may we, as our hearts and bodies heal, become angels in our turn to minister to others in their needs.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Grief Loss category

  • The Gift - By: Angelique Ellerman
    This article was written to help those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Death is just another stage in life, one that can be learned from and help each of us to evolve. Know that you are not alone and it will get better with time.
  • Crisis - How Will You Cope? - By: Tamara Johnson
    Summarizes the grief process after crisis. Outlines the natural grief process that leads to healing.
  • Acknowledging and Supporting the Difficult Life Transitions of Those We Care About - By: Chellie Bonebrake
    From the end of a relationship with a person, house, or job to the diagnosis and treatment of a serious illness, we all encounter struggles in our lives. A hug, a laugh and a supportive message from someone who cares go a long way in providing comfort to a heavy heart. Many people are unable to be with a friend or loved one as they adjust to a difficult situation.
  • For The New Widow - Three Things To Remember - When The Moon In The Sky Hits Like An Axe In The Eye - By: Linda Della Donna
    It’s the end of the day, the end of the week, the end of the month.The cat’s in the cradle and the dog’s in the yard.Or, is it the other way around?
  • If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will) - By: Earl Erickson
    A song written by R. Beresford and H. Sanders and sung by country music’s living legend, George Jones , entitled, If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will) , has a much different meaning for me today.
  • Balloons... To Release, Detached And Let Go? - By: K Amber
    The past is over and nothing can be changed. We cannot accept the happening in the past so we tend to cling hard to that experience. We just let our future and present move fearing the past would repeat.
  • Communicating With Deceased Loved Ones - By: Yvonne Perry
    My interest in the Afterlife and spirit communication began in earnest in 2000, when my life literally fell apart. There was an entity that began to manifest to comfort and console me as I was going through my divorce. Whenever I cried, this loving presence touched me in a warm and motherly way.
  • What Does God Have To Say About Death? - By: Jennifer C
    The day we are born, we begin to die. It’s a given fact of life, yet one which we spend much of our lives trying to ignore or defy.The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die ..
  • I Will Never Die! - By: Yvonne Perry
    That is a bold statement, but you see, I no longer believe in death. My body may demise and my spirit may depart from it, but who I am (my essence) will NOT die.Some people view death as a fearful tragedy, the end of a life, a sad finality.
  • Life on the Other Side - By: Yvonne Perry
    If only we knew what was on the Other Side of this life! Knowing for sure what lies ahead might make a difference in how we view dying and aging and how we handle the death of a loved one.Much of our fear about death is rooted in delusions and distorted ways of looking at life and the world around us.