Oh, By the Way

Elijah’s chief complaint was that he had been left alone to complete an overwhelming task. He had done his best but it wasn’t enough, and now those he had publicly opposed had threatened to kill him. God had listened to his complaint without comment and finally given him some new directions. He was to be given the opportunity to be restored, all he needed to do was to go back the way he came and follow God’s latest instructions. And oh, by the way God added, there are 7000 people in Israel who have not given up their faith and who remained faithful. Elijah’s excuse was taken away. He was not alone, there were 7000 others!

People in ministry often have a sense of being alone. There is no one else to help, no one understands, you are struggling against overwhelming odds with no or little support. Just as in Elijah’s day, God does not leave you alone, there are always others who have the same passions and determination you do and God is more than willing to connect you with them. But that won’t happen as long as you sit in your caves, feeling sorry for yourself and finding ways to justify your disobedience. Elijah needed to honestly consider his position and acknowledge this before God and then take the necessary steps to get back on track. So long as he refused to do this he was going to remain where he was in a state of spiritual depression.

Ministry is sometimes a lonely calling, more often than not you will be following a voice that only you have heard and sometimes that means others will not understand why you do the things you do. You cannot experience someone else’s passion or enthusiasm, and they can’t experience yours; this is something that you must have firsthand. It is only as you remain centred in the will of God by obediently following his every direction that you can be certain to avoid those times of absolute frustration and disappointment. God will provide you with those who will share your journey, but it is only as you fully commit yourself to that journey that those fellow travelers will emerge. Too often Christians follow a populist plan seeking to be the friend to all and accepted by everyone. By trying not to offend any and include all they become weak and powerless. Like a ship without a rudder they lose direction. In seeking those to travel or work with it is important to find those that share the same dreams and visions you have, to form a cohesive group rather than an inclusive one. The effort invested in including everybody dissipates the energy available to achieve the goals God has given to you.

Elijah jumped to the conclusion that he alone was left, he didn’t believe that God had others that were working behind the scenes as he took the up-front position, but he had. One of those was the man who was going to take his place, Elisha. There were no doubt many prophets still faithful to God in Israel and ordinary people who were daily crying out to God about the injustice in the land. But Elijah assumed that the work was all for him to do and he was too tired to continue. God may have called you to a specific ministry and you may have a prominent part in it but it is not your task alone. Just as for Elijah, God has many others that you might not even know who are faithfully working toward the same ends as you are and they are just waiting for some leadership and encouragement from you to rise up and accept the challenge.

If you are feeling tired, dispirited and alone ask God to lead you to those others who will share your load. The work you have done will not be forgotten, God will honour your labour and give reward for the work you have done, but he wants you to continue, so get up, leave your cave and get back on track.best but it wasn’t enough, and now those he had publicly opposed had threatened to kill him. God had listened to his complaint without comment and finally given him some new directions. He was to be given the opportunity to be restored, all he needed to do was to go back the way he came and follow God’s latest instructions. And oh, by the way God added, there are 7000 people in Israel who have not given up their faith and who remained faithful. Elijah’s excuse was taken away. He was not alone, there were 7000 others!

People in ministry often have a sense of being alone. There is no one else to help, no one understands, you are struggling against overwhelming odds with no or little support. Just as in Elijah’s day, God does not leave you alone, there are always others who have the same passions and determination you do and God is more than willing to connect you with them. But that won’t happen as long as you sit in your caves, feeling sorry for yourself and finding ways to justify your disobedience. Elijah needed to honestly consider his position and acknowledge this before God and then take the necessary steps to get back on track. So long as he refused to do this he was going to remain where he was in a state of spiritual depression.

Ministry is sometimes a lonely calling, more often than not you will be following a voice that only you have heard and sometimes that means others will not understand why you do the things you do. You cannot experience someone else’s passion or enthusiasm, and they can’t experience yours; this is something that you must have firsthand. It is only as you remain centred in the will of God by obediently following his every direction that you can be certain to avoid those times of absolute frustration and disappointment. God will provide you with those who will share your journey, but it is only as you fully commit yourself to that journey that those fellow travelers will emerge. Too often Christians follow a populist plan seeking to be the friend to all and accepted by everyone. By trying not to offend any and include all they become weak and powerless. Like a ship without a rudder they lose direction. In seeking those to travel or work with it is important to find those that share the same dreams and visions you have, to form a cohesive group rather than an inclusive one. The effort invested in including everybody dissipates the energy available to achieve the goals God has given to you.

Elijah jumped to the conclusion that he alone was left, he didn’t believe that God had others that were working behind the scenes as he took the up-front position, but he had. One of those was the man who was going to take his place, Elisha. There were no doubt many prophets still faithful to God in Israel and ordinary people who were daily crying out to God about the injustice in the land. But Elijah assumed that the work was all for him to do and he was too tired to continue. God may have called you to a specific ministry and you may have a prominent part in it but it is not your task alone. Just as for Elijah, God has many others that you might not even know who are faithfully working toward the same ends as you are and they are just waiting for some leadership and encouragement from you to rise up and accept the challenge.

If you are feeling tired, dispirited and alone ask God to lead you to those others who will share your load. The work you have done will not be forgotten, God will honour your labour and give reward for the work you have done, but he wants you to continue, so get up, leave your cave and get back on track.