"Calgon! Take me away!!"
I remember that commercial! Watching and wondering if it was really possible for a bubble bath to really 'take it all away'. As I get older (and some days I feel older than others) I realize that a simple bubble bath can't take away all that life throws at us (as much as I WISH it was that easy)! I have been thinking about this over the past few weeks (not Calgon) as life pressures have weighed heavy at times
I remember that commercial! Watching and wondering if it was really possible for a bubble bath to really 'take it all away'. As I get older (and some days I feel older than others) I realize that a simple bubble bath can't take away all that life throws at us (as much as I WISH it was that easy)! I have been thinking about this over the past few weeks (not Calgon) as life pressures have weighed heavy at times
In our Chapel last week with the kids we learned about Elijah. We used the passage from I Kings 19. Elijah had just had one of the most incredible mountain top experiences ever. He saw Gods power displayed like nothing he had seen before! God had done what He said He would do! The victory had been won over the 'gods' of the land. They had been defeated.
Yet within what appears to be a matter of minutes we see Elijah fleeing because of the threat from JezebeI. See she was mad because in her twisted evil mind Elijah beat her. What she completely missed was that it was God Who won and HE was the one she needed to pick on. But that is for another post.
The point being-despite how much God displayed His power - Elijah saw her as a threat and ran. It says in scripture that he went a days journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a tree and told God, "just take my life! I've had enough!" Then he laid down and slept.
I love this story. It shows me that even the greatest prophet had times of discouragement. I particularly like how God handled it. He sent an angel down who wakes Elijah up and tells him to eat. Elijah looks around and sees hot baked bread & water ready for him. So, he eats the bread and drinks the water - then he goes back to sleep. I don't know how much time goes by but the angel comes back a second time - wakes him up & tells him to eat because he has a long journey ahead of him. So, he eats & the food strengthens him enough that he travels 40 days & 40 nights to Mount Horeb - the Mountain of God.He goes into a cave & 'lodges' there.
I wish I knew how long he 'lodged' there. How long did God let him stay in this cave? I guess I'll have to ask when I get to heaven. How ever long it was it was just enough. God gives him a place to refresh, rest, regroup. Call it what you want but God's compassion and care for Elijah in this story is so incredibly personal. Elijah had obeyed God at all cost. He allowed God to work through him to teach the people. And when he had expereinced the spiritual high of victory the crashing defeat of fear awaited him and knocked him down.
God doesn't allow Elijah to stay in that cave forever. He does end up calling him out and sending him back into the battle. However, I don't see God scolding Elijah. I don't see God shaking His finger at Elijah saying, "shame on you! Stop it & get up off your bum!" I don't think God would ever say bum but it just fit!
God very tenderly cares for His faithful servant; provides for his physical needs; provides for his emotional needs by giving him a place to get away & provides for his spiritual needs by meeting him where he was.
I know God does that for us today. He sees the weariness - He sees when we are worn and tired - He sees when we are discouraged. When we lay down to rest He comes & provides for our physical needs, our emotional needs and especially our spiritual needs. He even gives us places to 'get away' - a cave if you will - to hide out & get that refreshment we so desperately need. Its like He says, "Come ALL you who are weary & I WILL give you rest. Take my yoke upon you - For my yoke is easy & my burden is lite."
God loves us - period! As I tell the kiddos ALL the time - God loves you no matter what! There is nothing we could ever do that would cause Him to withdrawal His love. He knows when we are tired; He knows when we are discouraged, stressed; He knows when we are weary & worn. And for me personally this is such a great comfort & peace to my weary worn heart.
I think this song says it best - enjoy & remember there is really only One place you can find the rest your heart needs....
God doesn't allow Elijah to stay in that cave forever. He does end up calling him out and sending him back into the battle. However, I don't see God scolding Elijah. I don't see God shaking His finger at Elijah saying, "shame on you! Stop it & get up off your bum!" I don't think God would ever say bum but it just fit!
God very tenderly cares for His faithful servant; provides for his physical needs; provides for his emotional needs by giving him a place to get away & provides for his spiritual needs by meeting him where he was.
I know God does that for us today. He sees the weariness - He sees when we are worn and tired - He sees when we are discouraged. When we lay down to rest He comes & provides for our physical needs, our emotional needs and especially our spiritual needs. He even gives us places to 'get away' - a cave if you will - to hide out & get that refreshment we so desperately need. Its like He says, "Come ALL you who are weary & I WILL give you rest. Take my yoke upon you - For my yoke is easy & my burden is lite."
God loves us - period! As I tell the kiddos ALL the time - God loves you no matter what! There is nothing we could ever do that would cause Him to withdrawal His love. He knows when we are tired; He knows when we are discouraged, stressed; He knows when we are weary & worn. And for me personally this is such a great comfort & peace to my weary worn heart.
I think this song says it best - enjoy & remember there is really only One place you can find the rest your heart needs....
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