Daily Worship

Elijah in the Eye of the Storm

Laura Digan October 22, 2023 5 3
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1 Kings 19: 11-13 (NRSVA)

11 He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

Elijah:

"I was desperate.

I was afraid, alone, exhausted… I’d had enough. I didn’t want to do it anymore. 

I had been doing the Lord’s work, speaking the truth but where had it got me? I’ll tell you, being hunted down, afraid for my life. Hiding out in this deserted, forsaken wilderness. It was too much to bear. 

I had hit rock bottom when an angel of the Lord came to me. 

He fed me and guarded me while I slept. 

When I awakened the Lord asked me, ‘What are you doing here Elijah?’

What am I doing here? What am I doing here? What a slap in the face… I’m here because of him! I’m here in this broken place because of him. 

And then he tells me to stand outside the cave because he is going to pass by. 

And so I stood outside. And a storm came so deadly that the wind shattered the rocks around me. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind. But I continued to stand and wait. Then the earth shook and the rocks tumbled down around me but the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. But I continued to stand and wait. Then fire came up through the broken ground and danced around me. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. 

Then in the aftermath of the destruction, 
in the silence, 
I heard a whisper, 
the gentle whispering of my name. 
It was the Lord. 
He had been with me all along."

 

PRAYER:

 

Lord God, 

Like Elijah, we turn to face you in the storms of life,

Help us Lord to see you 

And to hear your voice 

For you are with us always

Amen