Lonely, But Never Alone!

Okay so let's jump right into the midst of Elijah's life where he had just witnessed first hand the MIRACULOUS miracle from the Lord over the prophets of Baal. I'd highly suggest that you take a few minutes to read this portion of Scripture in I Kings 18:17-40 which gives a very detailed and rather exciting account in an easy to read and easy to understand kind of way! 

Okay, so Elijah had just seen and taken part in the GREAT miracle over the prophets of Baal, however on the heels of this great victory, we immediately catch up with Elijah as he's fleeing far away from a woman named Jezebel who had just pronounced a death threat against him!

"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time."
I Kings 19:1-2

Elijah was so distraught that He requested that the Lord take his life!

“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."
I Kings 19:4

Instead of punishing or reprimanding Elijah for running away scared and for sulking under the juniper tree, look at what the Lord did!

"And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

⁶ And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

⁷ And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

⁸ And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
I Kings 19:5-8

From there Elijah journeyed to a cave where the Lord spoke to him.

"Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks 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 still small voice.

¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"
I Kings 19:11-13

At times our loneliness, fear and despair can cause us to believe the lie that we are abandoned, not only by our friends, but by the Lord Himself.

Believing the lie that we have no purpose in life especially for the kingdom of God.

Believing the lie that no one cares about us including the Lord.

Believing the lie that no one could possibly understand our life circumstances. 

Having a "what's the use attitude".

All attitudes we observe in Elijah.

All attitudes I, too, have experienced at times in my own life over these past sixteen years of dealing with chronic illness.

Did you notice I intentionally used the phrase, "believing the lie"?

I used that particular wording because that's exactly what it is.

A LIE!

The Lord was right there with Elijah the entire time! 

He fed him.

He gave him sleep.

He listened to him.

He encouraged him.

He instructed him.

He reassured him there was still work for him to do for God's kingdom.

Did you take notice that the Lord did NOT speak to Elijah through the great and strong wind, the earthquake or the fire? The Lord chose instead to speak to Elijah in a small still voice. It was a very personal encounter with the Lord.

The still small voice of God speaking to the human heart is actually more powerful than outward displays of power or displays of God’s judgment.

WOW, put all those things together and I'd say that's definitely a God who cares, provides, comforts, loves, and most importantly, knows ALL about His children.

Elijah may have been all alone, but we can see for ourselves that the Lord NEVER once left him alone.

LONELY,

BUT

NEVER

ALONE!

It's great to have a support system. A spouse, friends or church family who can help bear our burdens. Pray along with us and encourage us in our walk with the Lord, however, these people are NOT always available. We cannot rely on them 24/7 to help us whenever we need them, but Jesus is always available.

As a believer with a personal relationship with Christ, He is ALWAYS with us.

HE IS JUST

A PRAYER AWAY!

Let's purpose together as believers that the next time the sting and hurt of despair, fear or loneliness threaten to overtake us, instead of immediately turning to our support system, let's instead call upon our Saviour!

And trust me, I'm speaking first and foremost to myself about this matter!

Trusting He hears us.

Believing He understands and cares ALL about our circumstances.

Rejoicing that He's a friend which is closer than a brother!
"There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:23

Taking heart He is ALWAYS with us.

LONELY,

BUT

NEVER

ALONE!

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
Deuteronomy 31:8