HALT Elijah!
I’ve heard all of us talk about days that we just feel off. I know for me those days seem to come after a time when I’ve been on a “high” and then for some reason I seem to crash. How do we snap out of that mood … or avoid it entirely? I have an idea.
I learned years ago that when I’m feeling out of sorts and not sure what to do in order to get sorted again … I should HALT. I recently came across the story of Elijah and it made me realize that, like everything else, this was originally God’s idea.
Many times when we are feeling “off” we will find that we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. We may even be all 4 at once. We may have been that way for a short time or it could be going on months. No matter how long you’ve felt those things it’s important to understand that God takes care of us in those times. He doesn’t get irritated because we’re in THAT mood again. Look at how He dealt with Elijah during a similar time.
In I Kings 18 we see Elijah and the Baal prophets go at it … altar for altar. Of course God shows His power and Elijah’s God is shown to be THE God. Elijah has just been shown God’s amazing power … He was given victory … and yet that victory means that now people want him dead.
In I Kings 19 we witness Elijah giving up. He tells God, “I have had enough Lord, take my life.” What?! I look at this and think, “Okay Elijah, God just showed you that He’s on your side and that He’s got your back. How can you now tell Him you’re done?! How can your faith not get you through this? What could bring “the great Elijah” to this point?”
I think he might be hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. Keep reading.
1st … He lies down under a tree and falls asleep. People are wanting to kill him and he falls asleep? That’s tired!
2nd … An angel appears and tells him to get up and eat. He finds bread and water there for him. He eats and then falls back asleep. That’s tired and hungry!
3rd … God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?” His reply, “”I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” That sounds to me like he might be a little angry with the Israelites.
4th … God calls Elisha to come help Elijah out. That sounds to me like God heard Elijah say, “I am the only one left.” Maybe he’s feeling lonely … a little overwhelmed … so God sends him a partner.
What about you? Next time you’re feeling in that “funk” for no apparent reason try God’s remedy. Allow yourself some time to rest and eat something healthy. Pray to God about any lingering resentments that may be festering. Then find a friend to hang out with … someone to help give your spirit some strength.
By doing this you just may be able to put a HALT to that mood that’s creeping up on your heart.
There is so much wisdom in this. I have been trying for quite awhile to figure out where my “down” days come from. I haven’t been able to pinpoint it exactly, but I do think that my diet and sleep patterns play a big part.
With Elijah, God knew the crash that would come after the “high” of battling the Baal prophets. He knew Elijah’s body would need rest and food and time for things to balance out after the adrenaline rush. Probably the long walk gave Elijah time to work thru the anger and resentment he was harboring as well. And then, God showed Elijah he was NOT alone by providing Elisha as a companion and apprentice of sorts.
God is so good to us. I mean…He made us..so why does it surprise me that He knows exactly what we need and then loves us enough to supply it??!!
WHAT I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IS WHY DON’T WE TAKE BETTER CARE OF OURSELVES? GOD OBVIOUSLY DOES HIS BEST, BUT I FIGHT HIM ON SO MUCH OF IT. MY DIET IS HORRIBLE … I RECOGNIZE THE WAY IT ALTERS MY MOODS … AND YET I DON’T CHANGE IT. I ACTUALLY HAD A WOMAN WHO WAS VERY HONEST WITH ME SAY, “YOU ARE LAZY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR EATING AND UNTIL YOU CHANGE THAT, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE MOODS AND EXHAUSTION.” EEK. I KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FIRST STEP … HOPEFULLY I CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS AND START DOING BETTER.
One of my favorite characters in the whole bible is Elijah. I just identify with him. I think it is because I can see he has ups and downs like me. He goes from being on the mountain, strong in the faith that God will back him up…mighty in faith! Can you imagine how much he wouldn’t want to be there if he didn’t fully believe with every fiber of his being that God would rain down that fire. He had tremendous faith. Then he went from being so strong…to running scared. He ran. Terror makes you run until you can run no more…until he has to give up. He laid down under the tree and slept. That is my most absolute favorite part because I identify with that in a huge way. I have been there before…when I had to stop running and start admitting defeat after the truth about my situation started coming out. And even in laying down he demonstrates faith, I think. Faith that God will watch over him while he rests…otherwise don’t you think he would try to keep moving? Or maybe just sit down and cry? No, he slept. I remember when I brought my first child home from the hospital and each night for the first several nights I checked on him with every little move he made, every little sigh he breathed…until finally I was so exhausted I had to let the Lord take over. I prayed and asked God to watch my baby for me and I slept…I entrusted him to Gods care. I think Elijah had to know God would watch over him. And God, out of his love for him, sent an angel to care for him…to wait on him…to feed him and nurture him back into health. I think we’ve probably all had someone in our lives that took care of us in our worst moments. I know I have. I hope that everyone has someone like that at least once in their life. Those people are sent by God.
I love that after the angel wakes Elijah the first time, he goes back to sleep. To me that says God will wait for us…isn’t that the best gift? When we’ve had too much…when we can take no more…when our will is weak…He waits. He won’t give up on us. This is a lesson I have to learn over and over in my life. Then when Elijah goes to the mountain, I love that God comes in a whisper…not the fire or the earthquake…but a gentle whisper. He surely loved Elijah and He surely loves us. I love Elijah because he’s just a great example of faith and fortitude and servanthood…and I can see glimpses of myself in his life. Just glimpses…but enough to give me hope.
I wish I understood better what went on in Elijah’s mind when Jezebel’s threat to kill him was made known to him. Did he reason that after everything he had done in God’s name and power…even after the slaughtering of the 850 false prophets of false gods (and carrying out such a judgment from God must also have taken a toll on the prophet of God–for neither God nor his prophets find any pleasure in the death of the wicked)…that even after all this, evil is still entrenched in places of power. Did he think…”It doesn’t matter what I do…for every bitter plant I uproot, two take its place…no matter how many heads of the monster evil I sever, more keep regenerating?” Did he feel like he was trying to walk through quicksand? Was he angry with himself for being afraid for his life when the wicked witch of the east, Jezebel, mistress of murder and corruption, came after him? One thing’s for sure, he knew Jezebel didn’t ordinarily make empty threats. But away he runs. If his life is to end, he certainly doesn’t want it to be at the polluted hands of a Jezebel. When he left his servant at Beersheba and then went by himself about a day’s journey into the desert…it’s clear he hadn’t planned a return trip. He prays to die and lays down under the broom tree for what he thought would be his final sleep. Ah, to sleep, perchance to die. But God uses sleep, not to end Elijah’s life but to help restore it, as you pointed out, Paige. And while the prophet slept an angel cooked. How surprised was Elijah to not only awake…but to awake at the touch of an angel and to be served a much needed meal? Another sleep. Another meal. Special sleep and special food to give him strength to travel to Horeb, a journey of 40 days and nights. It was at Horeb God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” It’s time for an interview with God. Elijah makes his case. Sounds like a good one to me. “I feel like I’ve done my best for Your cause, Lord. But it wasn’t enough. Instead of gaining ground, I’ve lost ground. And, God, You are about to run out of servants. I am your last prophet and I’m under a death penalty.” God has Elijah go outside the cave and stand on the mountain to await the presence of God. Powerful wind, terrific earthquake, fearsome fire all manifest themselves…but God’s presence isn’t in any of those. Then came the gentle whisper and Elijah (who must have fled from the wind, earthquake and fire back into the cave) comes and stands at the mouth of the cave. The same question is offered him…”What are you doing here, Elijah?” And Elijah repeats his same story. This time God informs Elijah that his work is not over…that God is not out of options…and He’s not out of people who still worship and serve Him. God doesn’t always do His work with strong winds, powerful earthshaking force or devouring fire. Sometimes, perhaps even most often, God works in the gentle whisper of ordinary lives lived for Him…7000 people Elijah didn’t even know about…who daily went about their lives in faith, refusing to bow to Baal. Such people needed Elijah to stay on the job.
I’ve gone on way too long here…I apologize, Paige. But someone needs us to stay at our task too. When the fog of fear, confusion and/or depression creeps around us…when these effects come from legitimate concerns that we really can’t ignore…or when these effects come for reasons we don’t understand…it gives me great encouragement to see that when Elijah ran, God ran with him…wouldn’t give up on him…met him at every stop…and gave him just what he needed…until that time when God knew he was ready to hear the word…”Go back…finish your work!” And, praise our patient, faithful, loving, providing Father God…Elijah did it! Maybe we can too.
I was blessed by your post, Paige…and by the comments above. Thank you all.
I LIKE WHEN YOU WERE WRITING AS IF YOU WERE IN ELIJAH’S HEAD TRYING TO THINK ABOUT ALL THAT HE MUST HAVE FELT AND THOUGHT. REMINDS ME OF THE SELF-TALK I DO. WHEN I TALK MYSELF OUT OF TRUSTING GOD … WHEN I VIEW THINGS THROUGH MY LITTLE MICROSCOPE AND NOT HIS BIG PICTURE. I’M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS EXAMPLE IN ELIJAH.
EVERYTIME I THINK OF THE “WHISPER” I THINK OF THE LINE IN A SONG THAT SAYS, “IN RUSTLING GRASS I HEAR HIM PASS”.
THANKS DOUG!