Comfort in the Wilderness
Sitting on my bed with tears streaking down my face, I remember feeling tired, emotionally and spiritually spent. My husband sat in front of me, looking concerned.
“I think I’m depressed,” I said.
For so long, I had been holding those words - carrying the weight of them. I couldn’t help but feel like a failure. This wasn’t my first bout with depression. I had struggled postpartum. Feelings of anxiety and sadness weren’t new to me, but I thought I had overcome them.
Although saying those words brought relief, I also felt overwhelmed with the feeling that I would have to do something about it. I would have to work hard to be happy and rested again.
The prophet Elijah knew about fatigue and despair. In one of the most unbelievable experiences in Scripture, he faced off against 450 of Baal’s prophets at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Fire fell from heaven, and the people watching fell face down, realizing that the God of Elijah was the one true God. This was a great spiritual victory! But soon after, Elijah ran for his life because the murderous King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were out to get him.
In our key verse, Elijah was on the run and exhausted, alone in the wilderness. Thankfully, God brought comfort:
“Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, ‘Get up and eat.’ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again” (1 Kings 19:5b-6, CSB).
The voice in my head as I read this is that of a loving parent nursing a child back to health. And all Elijah had to do in response was willingly receive nourishment and rest. He didn’t have to muster up his energy to keep going. He didn’t have to prove that he was still faithful. He simply had to receive and rest.
Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is eat a snack and take a nap.
One of the ways my Abuelita Carmen says “I love you” is by serving up a hot plate of gallo pinto (Nicaraguan red beans and rice) and tortillas. There is nothing fancy about this meal, but it’s delicious and nourishing. I lived with Abuelita from the time I was a child until I got married. Through the years and all the ups and downs, gallo pinto was always on the stove, a comforting reminder of her love.
I imagine that when Elijah saw the warm bread and refreshing water God provided for him, it made him feel loved as well.
Reading the story of Elijah and God’s comfort in the wilderness helps us to see that God calls us to rest too. He wants to be our comfort, bringing nourishment and respite when we need it most.
Heavenly Father, You are the God who brings comfort, rest, nourishment, and grace in the midst of our wilderness seasons. Help us to receive Your love, especially in moments of despair and exhaustion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"
Music: Eyes On You
When dark clouds roll
In over me
You are the light
That covers me
I keep my eyes on You
Holding on to Your
hands
God with You I will
stand
I keep on running to
You
'Cause Your Name will
remain
And with You I will
stay
Forever!
When fear creeps in
And sorrows rise
I choose to say
You are the way
Lord You are
My portion still
I need You, I want You
Be here in me
I keep my eyes on You
Holding on to Your
hands
God with You I will
stand
I keep on running to
You
'Cause Your Name will
remain
And with You I will
stay
Forever!
I will not be shaken
I will not be moved
For You have overcome
I will not be shaken
I will not be moved
You will stand with me
'Cause Your Name will remain
And with You I will stay
Forever!
The Condition of the Heart
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Luke 8:11-15
At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God's Word (Luke 8:5-18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to accept a message from God. Though you hear the words of the message, you will remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you will accept God's Word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your heart to make a difference in your actions. A heart like thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasures prevents God's Word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart that is like good soil receives a word from God, applies it, and brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a Christlike life.
Any time you hear a word from
God, whether through Bible reading, prayer, or worship, the way you respond
will depend on how you have cultivated your heart (Hosea 10:12). How do you
develop a heart that is like good soil? Repent of any bitterness, anger, or
unforgiveness that is hardening your heart. Meditate on God's Word until it
enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. When you read or hear a
word from God, apply it to your life and let God bring His word into reality in
your life (Galatians 6:9). Protect your lifestyle. See that you don't devote all of
your energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with
God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate it.
If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday, this does not guarantee it is
receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the word God has for you!