Read 1 Kings 19:4-5
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
Elijah, as we explored yesterday, entered the wilderness consumed with fear. He seemed to have forgotten that God had fed him with ravens, provided for him through a poor widow, and set fire to a soaking wet altar in an instant. Discouraged, he lay down beneath a broom tree (likely the only shade for miles), and prayed a desperate prayer. “Take my life” he said.
There is only a small, ⅛ inch space between verses 4 and 5 in our Bibles, but imagine for a moment what must have happened in that space. When you pray, especially when you ask God something in prayer, what do you most want to happen next? You want to hear a response! What looks like an ⅛ of an inch to us was a mile-wide silence for Elijah. He knew God. He knew God was listening. He told God how he felt, and he heard nothing in response.
It is highly likely that Elijah wanted to die, but given the circumstances, it is also likely that he didn’t really expect to live. He was in the desert alone with no supplies, and he had collapsed under the one and only tree available. He likely went to sleep not really expecting to wake up, but God wasn’t finished with him yet.
What felt like an endless silence to Elijah was not silence to God. Rather, God was preparing to meet him, as he had done before, and equip him for his next calling.
Today, as you reflect on this story, take some time to think about how you experience the silence of God. How do you feel when you ask for something and don’t hear a response? In what ways do you relate to Elijah?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know that you hear every cry of my heart, even if I don’t always hear anything in response. Silence is hard, Lord, but I want to grow in my trust. Increase my patience as you increase my faith. I trust you.
