#DailyDevotion The Days You Wish The LORD Would Just Take You Home
1 Kings 19:1–4 So that is why Jezebel is wanting to kill Elijah. After this great miracle that Elijah performed with the Living God, Yahweh, how do you think he should act towards Jezebel’s threat? I would like to think I would go, “Come and get me. You saw what Yahweh did to your prophets. See what will happen to you if you try to harm me.” You may be thinking the same thing. I’m like, “Seriously?! You just slaughtered all these prophets with the hand of the people. Tell them to take care of that wicked queen who brought Idolatry into Israel as the LORD’s Torah demanded.” But bravado now is 20/20.
So Elijah runs in fear into the wilderness. He complains to the the LORD, “I’ve had enough now, LORD. Take my life — I’m no better than my fathers.” Admittedly, there have been days in ministry I have felt the same way. I think every pastor has a day like this. It could be after a congregational meeting or after a conflict with a parishioner who threatens him. “What’s the point! God’s Word doesn’t seem like it has had the effect or repentance and love.” You may similarly slinked back to someplace when you think where is God in all of this? And I think that’s why the LORD allowed this to happen to Elijah. So when we are weak in faith we may see Elijah and what the LORD had done for him afterwards. He was not rejected by the LORD God but as we will see, he was later refreshed.
You may have you bad days where you exhibit weakness of faith. You may doubt you have any faith at all. You may want the LORD to just end it all for you. In those times, look at Jesus on the cross. Know that on the cross your Father in heaven showed his great love for you when you were weak and powerless. Look to the empty grave and believe the Father raised Jesus from the dead. He will raise you likewise unto eternal life. Look up the right hand of God and see your Savior Jesus Christ who is interceding for you right now to the Father and know God is hearing your unspoken prayer and the Father will answer the prayer the Holy Spirit is interceding for you with groans to deep for words. You Father in heaven will take care of you.
Heavenly Father, when we are weak in faith, may the intercession of Jesus Christ your Son and the intercession of the Holy Spirit reach your ears and may you do for us what we do not know what to ask for. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.