1 Kings 19:3-4
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah,
he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Running as fast as you can is supposed to be a good thing. If you are a competitive runner, it is a priority; you know that speed plus endurance yields results. The longer you can endure a fast pace, the better your chances of succeeding in the race.
In the case of Elijah, though, running fast was not a good thing. He wasn’t running to train or improve his fitness; he was running in terror because he believed his life depended upon it. An evil person was pursuing him so that she could kill him. Elijah thought he had nowhere to turn, and so he ran.
When I first read Elijah’s story, I have to admit I was a little critical of him. After all, Elijah was God’s prophet and had personally witnessed God’s amazing power in his life. So why did Elijah forget that and take off on this terrified journey? He ran alone in the wilderness, leaving behind any companionship, presumably with no food or water. He ran himself ragged, and only then did he talk to God about his problem.
And then it hit me: why am I critical of Elijah when I typically do the same thing? In the face of my fears, I turn and flee like Elijah did. Even though I have witnessed God’s love, provision, and power in my life, I bolt away from Him when times get tough. I run through the wilderness rather than turning to Him for help. I run until the fear of the situation becomes bigger than the original problem.
What I need to remember is what happened next in Elijah’s story: as soon as Elijah called upon God for help, God sent him an angel to tend to his every need. I need to remember that the God who loved Elijah is the same God who loves me. He is my Father, He miraculously provides for me, and He is bigger than any problem I face. His love abounds; His power has no end; His mercy never fails. God is with me no matter where I run.
God loves and cherishes you beyond what you can even imagine. He wants to draw you into His love, grace, and protection. He seeks to bless you abundantly. Stop running on your own.
Lord God, You alone are bigger than any problem I will ever face. You have the power to rescue me when things seem hopeless. Help me to turn to You first, not last. Help me when my fears become larger than my problems. Remind me of the countless times you have delivered me, and help me remember there are no limits to You helping me again. Forgive me for all the times I forget that Your power is limitless and that You can overcome absolutely everything that threatens me. Open my eyes to the angels You have put in my life that provide for me. Thank You for loving me perfectly and completely. In Jesus’ name I pray…AMEN.
