On Snipers and Souls and Hard Days

I know I caused some concern by my last blog. Thanks for your love and prayers in response. I hesitated to post it because I didn't want to worry you. Yet, at the same time, I have this high level of commitment to do what I promised 18 months ago…to give you "an honest look into a mysterious journey." Hence, a post like yesterdays. I don't think you'd want it any other way. I know I wouldn't. Pretending takes too much energy.

Today I've been thinking about Elijah. He was the character in my devotional reading (I Kings). I'm intrigued by the way he handles solitude, deprivation, death, the king and eventually the huge showdown on Mount Carmel. Before the day is over, fire has fallen from heaven, 850 false prophets are humiliated and slain, the people of God have returned to Him in repentance and a three year drought has come to an end. Not a bad day's work for a prophet. He even got in a good run to finish the day off right. My kind of man.

Then came a one sentence threat from the Queen who hadn't even come to his big faceoff with the false prophets. She says that before the sun sets again, she's going to make sure that he is like them … as in "dead." The man who took on the heavy artillery of hundreds of prophets in the presence of thousands of people gets picked off by a lone sniper in the palace. The Queen doesn't actually kill him, of course. But she does effectively kill his spirit. He flees faster than you can say "scared rabbit." And, he's suddenly so depressed he wants God to take his life…now. His attitude is, "I'd rather die than face another day." Elijah the stouthearted becomes Elijah the no-hearted.

I didn't slip that low yesterday, don't worry. I wasn't asking God to take me home…besides, I already know His answer to that prayer: "No. I've got a job for you to do here. You tried that dying thing already, now get on with life!" (Those weren't God's exact words, mind you, but I think I got the gist of what He has been saying on that matter.)

I can relate to the “getting picked off by the sniper” routine, though. I'm amazed at how many hard days and how much bad news and how many life changing factors I can face with relative strength, only to have one phone call or one difficult conversation completely flatten me. I feel like I can successfully navigate a field of land mines, defend against the artillery and dodge the air strike only to have some pistol in a guy’s pocket take me out.

What Elijah is about to learn is that the Queen doesn’t have final say. She can threaten and wield great intimidation with her threats, but his life is in the hands of Another…and so is yours and mine.

It would take quite a bit to get Elijah back to a good place—a few really good meals, a couple long naps, some solitude, a revelation of God's presence, some new assignments and a ministry partner (Elisha). I don't think it will take this much for me, at least not this time around…although the "really good meals" thing does sound very inviting! I don't believe we're supposed to take Elijah's story and make a formula out of it, Six Steps to Soul Recovery. The example is a good one and the principles are significant, but the fact is that God works uniquely in each of us. And, a good work He does!

He's not One to leave His troops wounded on the side of the road. In my latest battle I haven't seen Him yet, but I know He's near.

So, take heart with me tonight, wounded soldier. Your injury isn't fatal. Your enemy is temporary. Your Redeemer and Healer is near. We may have caught the sniper’s bullet, but the Lord will catch us. Of that I am certain.

Fighting along side of you,
John