don't isolate | kdmanestreet

Run, Forrest, run!”

I love this scene from the movie, Forrest Gump. Little Forrest was being bullied by the other kids from school. So his small, female friend, Jenny, took charge and admonished him not to fight, but run! Bolstered with speed, Forrest not only lost his weighty leg braces, but also made record time.

Impressive. I ran that fast once . . . yes, in a dream, but it felt exhilarating nonetheless!

There was another man. . . a prophet, who had an impressive speed streak. He may have even been faster than Usain Bolt, who set the 2009 world record of 9.58 in the 100 meters. His name was Elijah.

After God used Elijah by powerfully demonstrating His sovereignty over the false prophets of Baal, “the power of the LORD came on him and he ran ahead of Ahab all the way from Mount Carmel to Jezreel,” as King Ahab sped away in his chariot in order to beat an angry storm, (1 Kings 18:44-46).

Most scholars suggest the distance to be approximately 17 miles, others suggest it could have been as far as 30 miles. Although we don’t know Elijah’s speed, we know God miraculously gave him strength to run ahead of Ahab in his chariot, which could have easily been about 35 miles per hour.

Elijah ran in God’s strength in 1 Kings 18 and ran on his own fumes in chapter 19. When we are exhausted, we need to stop, rest, and wait on God. It’s pointless to take matters into our own hands. Faith isn’t the opposite of fear, but rather trusting in a greater God when facing our fears.

When Elijah obeyed, God supernaturally equipped and empowered him. But when Elijah disobeyed by not confronting Queen Jezebel and instead ran away from her death threats, he placed himself outside of God’s will.

With the amazing miracles God accomplished through Elijah, especially on the heels of Elijah’s major victory over the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, (men who led the nation into idolatry and ate at Queen Jezebel’s table), it’s hard to grasp how this committed man of God could fear Queen Jezebel, sinking into a pit of despair to the point of asking God to take his life.

But if this tough minded prophet with an impressive track record, both literally and spiritually, could be vulnerable to discouragement and depression, then so can we.

What can we learn from Elijah’s story?

The Enemy’s lie: “You’re life is over.” Do you ever feel stuck, or in a season where you don’t feel very fruitful? I know I have. There have been mountain top times when I can see God move and feel blessed because I know He is using me. Then the winter season hits when I struggle to hear God’s voice. Unsure where He wants me, or what He wants me to do, I give way to frustration and feelings of hopelessness. But it’s during these seemingly long, unproductive times that He prunes and teaches me to simply trust, rest, and just enjoy His presence. Because Jesus cleared the way through his atoning sacrifice, I can not only come as I am, a complete mess, before the Father, but He also welcomes me with open arms.

He forgot what God had done. All of us have struggles. But God is faithful. He has seen me through many difficult and good times. I have witnessed His gentle strength, guidance, healing, comfort, and counsel numerous times. I not only need regular time of reflection of His provision and blessings, but also need to remember to thank Him daily for His goodness. While we’re admonished to forget the past in regard to sin, we’re reminded to remember what God has done.

He listened to the enemy’s lies. We have a real Enemy who knows us and seeks to discourage and trip us up. I am sensitive . . . to a fault sometimes. The enemy has used this area before, whispering lies when dealing with difficult personalities in the church. Telling me: “You don’t belong here. You don’t fit into this church body.”

But just because I am hurt by someone’s words or actions, or didn’t agree with someone, doesn’t mean I should leave and run to another church. God plants us where He wants us. When we feel pressure, we look for a word from God to bring relief. But sometimes God is quiet and places us in very uncomfortable situations to refine and strengthen us, not to cut us down.

If we’re not facing some opposition, could it be that we’re not fully walking in obedience? When we actively seek to obey God, we need to ground ourselves in His Word and in prayer, because the Enemy has marked us as targets. But “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” (1 Jn. 4:4).

He isolated himself. Maybe other believers steered clear of Elijah because he was called to confront, not comfort. Whatever the reason, he ministered solo and suffered because of it.

I need quiet time to recharge. But there is a difference between recharging and having alone time with God, which is beneficial, than cutting myself off from others.

Some people withdraw because they don’t want to be a burden or obligation to anyone. I tend to withdraw when I’m tired or feel like I have nothing to offer, (which would also be a lie from the Enemy). But these are the times I especially need God’s people around me for encouragement and edification.

He began fantasizing about escape. Hmm . . . how about a romantic movie? (Writing to the ladies here.) Chocolate ice cream? Digging my feet in the warm crystal sand beside the turquoise waters? A shopping spree, courtesy of my visa? I could go on. . . Maybe Elijah justified his running away from confronting Jezebel with his strong desire to hear from God. The void he felt within and the hunger to hear a word from God changed his focus from stepping out in obedience to fleeing to Beersheba, then into the desert, and finally to Mount Horeb (Sinai). It was there, like Moses centuries earlier, that he finally talked to God.

Personal Application

Take some time to look for the following red flags and ask God for clarity: