09/16/2022
Are we feeling particularly blessed, and think that God has set us atop the world? Well, don’t get too comfortable there because the Lord sends us into solitary places, places that seem contrary to our service to Him, and there, in a sorrowful state, a lowly existence, He feeds us, and increases us in our faith. We were doing everything He asked, and leading a righteous life to glorify Him, when suddenly we are struck lame, made sick, suffered the death of a loved one, lost all that we have worked so hard for, or perhaps had a beloved child walk away from God, and we find ourselves in a wilderness, or alone beside the brook Cherith… humbled and unable to feed ourselves. Have we been there? Has the sunny day we have been enjoying suddenly darkened and a storm settled over us?
““Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.””
1 Kings 17:3-4 ESV
I have discovered something profound in my life, and have said it over and over again to many people… “The worst days of my life physically, have always been the best days of my life spiritually.” This is true of me, and I know it will be true for you; we just need to be ready to turn our faces towards our Heavenly Father and be willing to answer the seemingly simple question He will ask us… the same question He asked Elijah as he stood in the mouth of the cave… “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:12-13 ESV
When our life suddenly “goes to hell in a hand basket”, and we think that God has abandoned us, or that we have lost sight of Him, He is there, and if we are paying attention we will hear His low whisper asking us a question similar to the one He asked Elijah… why are we there. This should be easy to answer, but it isn’t. Elijah thought he was there to tell God that the people had forsaken Him, and killed His prophets, but that was not it. God already knew all of that; Elijah was called there to do something great… he was there so that God could send him to anoint Kings.
When our world collapses around us God has something for us at that moment that is hard for us to see because our attention is usually focused on our failing world, not on His true will, and so, why we are there before Him usually has little to do with the greatness He has prepared for us.
“And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
1 Kings 19:15-16 ESV
We are sent to hide in creek beds, on long journeys through wildernesses, into high mountain caves, and out onto parched deserts, but it is never for the reasons we think. How many times have we been asked why we are there, and actually given God the right answer? Few if any! How many times have we come to Him in fear, or sadness and heard Him tell us something we never expected to hear? Many, and perhaps every!
God’s will is a mystery to us, and His question “Why are you here?” isn’t about our worldly problems, but how well we understand His will in this .terrible earthly moment. When my father died I was devastated, and came to the Lord for comfort, but what He gave me was Himself… a father that would never die. Although I had called Him my Father many times before, I had never truly understood today relationship until I had lost my earthly father. I was changed, and mightily so. As we look at our lives do we see these moments of great change, and haven’t they always been associated with some trauma in our lives? A sickness from which we were healed? Something lost and then was found? A fear we had to face?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
Romans 12:2-3 ESV
Today we might be riding the crest of a spiritual wave, and we might think that there is none higher than this, or that what we are experiencing will last forever, but there is always something higher, greater, and yet to be experienced, but to do so we will need to be humbled… to see ourselves as less, and the wave we are on for what it truly is… and for us to do this we will be asked “Child, why are you here?”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the spiritual advancement you use our earthly troubles to reveal. Thank you for the valleys that show us just how high your mountains really are, and the power in your low whisper as it overcomes the mightiest of natural occurrences… ferocious winds, fierce fires, and mighty earthquakes. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God before whom we are shown the true nature of your calling, and the reasons why we have come to you. Praised be your name for the storms that give increase and rise to our faith. Merciful are you Lord for taking what the world throws at us, and making it our comfort, our joy, and our understanding of your will for us. Your grace is sufficient for us, and as we pray in the Spirit for it to transform us, we begin to see your will revealing itself, and are lifted above every calamity. Teach us your will in Christ, and allow us to understand the true reason why we are kneeling here before you. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and forgive us our sins so that we will be worthy of spending eternity with you. This is the day that you have made, and we will rejoice in it forever.
Rich Forbes