Things have been slowly changing around our house as our children are growing at a rapid pace. At times, my wife and I have been purposefully ignoring it. Neither of us want to admit they’ll eventually leave the nest. This past weekend, the girls decided to go to the mall together. She sent me a text early on and said, “This girl….in heaven! Wow, she’s growing up.” A little while later, after returning home, we were talking about their outing as I noticed her countenance change. She stated, “I got a little sad at one point. She didn’t really want to hold my hand while we walked around.” I asked, “Did you expect her to? She almost 10 now.” She didn’t answer as the conversation just kind of ended there. As parents, we work with our kids to teach them independence, confidence in themselves, as well as decision-making skills. Sometimes they rise to the occasion. Other times, they crash and burn because of a purposeful mistake. We parents get upset when our expectations aren’t met, forgetting our children are little human beings born with that sinful nature just like the rest of us.
Elijah was a great prophet of God that, under the Holy Spirits power and leading, performed many miracles. 1 Kings 18 & 19 find him on the side of Mount Carmel in a showdown with the prophets of baal to prove who the real God was. God proved his power that day and Elijah went on to have all (approximately) 450 prophets of baal captured and killed. Elijah’s future actions exemplify to us he assumed God’s people, King Ahab, and his controlling wife, Jezebel, would finally change their ways and turn back God. Once finding out what happened, Jezebel becomes furious and has word sent to Elijah she will have him killed within 24 hours. Fearful for his life, Elijah found himself running from a crazy woman and eventually hid himself away allowing his mind to fall into a deep depression of sorts. Because his expectations weren’t met, Elijah felt forsaken by God which led to his questioning the anointing on his life. While in a cave hiding, God provides Elijah with a personal encounter. Scripture tells us in 1 Kings 19:11-12
“11 And he [God] said, 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.”
God had never left Elijah. But one could assume by our story, Elijah had trouble hearing the voice of God above his own hopes for the final outcome. God proved to Elijah that day (and to us), He cannot and will not be conformed to any man or woman’s opinions.
Closing remarks and encouragement: Many times, we Christians walk into situations with expectations of how/when/where God should move. “Surely, God will choose to move through grandiose gestures for all the world to see and know His power!!” Not really. Christ’s arrival and eventual crucifixion are prime examples of that fact. We want to see big changes but find ourselves disappointed when He only chooses to show himself through the “still small voice.” God cannot be limited. His plans are perfect. We can’t get so caught up in our own expectations that we can’t see when God is choosing to move in a different way than we anticipated. The enemy will come to stir up the noise in our lives to prevent us from hearing that still small voice. It’s our job to purpose those times of quiet intimacy with the Master so we can hear His voice, know His heart, and rest in his love.
Have a blessed week, my friends!!!