What are you doing here?

One of my favorite stories in the Bible comes from 1 Kings 19. Elijah has just had a great victory before all of Israel against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The drought is now over, the sky has grown black and the land is filled with a mighty wind and heavy rain. I envision the man of God running victoriously ahead of Ahab to Jezreel, clutching his cloak to his body and bowing his head against the downpour. This mountaintop moment is then met with despair.

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” (1 Kings 19:1-2)

Elijah then flees to Mount Horeb, afraid and running for his life. How often do we do this also? We can recall all of the awesome things the Lord has done in our own lives, and still we want to run when, in the natural, things appear impossible. The Lord provides food for Elijah there and restores his strength—then comes my favorite part! Picture this. Elijah has hidden himself in a cave, defeated and ready to give up, then this happens—

9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the 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 still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9-13)

What are you doing here, [insert your name here!]?

Our God is awesome and mighty and strong! What are we doing in our sadness, grief, angst, anger, pain and confusion? Recall to mind the many times the Almighty God has delivered you and remember He is there! He has got this thing, this situation, before you and you can trust Him!

Our vision is so limited and so where it ends we must learn to apply our faith. God is in every single thing—there is nothing apart from Him!

What are you doing here? Trust Him!