God’s Purpose is for Our Good
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness,
(The First Book of the Kings 19: 4 NASB)
and came and sat down under a juniper tree;
and he requested for himself that he might die, and said,
“It is enough;
now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”
She sat near me, right beside my office desk, visibly clearly spent. It was easy to see as the tears leaked out the corners of her eyes, but she was tough, wiping her tears before they could run down her face.
- What is it about life that seems to get the best of us?
- Why is it that our stressors cause us to cry, to plead, “Help me?”
- Where can we turn when the worry, anxiety & fear make us feel as a failure?
When she missed class, again, I knew something must be wrong. Her email told me why, but I sensed there was MORE than what she was saying; so, when I suggested that we meet later in the day, she agreed. As I walked to my next class, I sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit that I should offer more, so I sent an email. “Would you like to come to my office?”
Readily, she responded: “Yes.” That’s when the LORD prepared my heart to receive His child, causing me to lift her in prayer, even as I walked across campus, moving from one classroom to the next.
Elijah was fleeing from the queen who had promised to kill him before tomorrow came. He took the only action possible; Elijah ran for his life, running a full day’s journey from Queen Jezebel. Fear gripped his heart, for he feared he was next, as the queen had killed all of God’s prophets one-by-one.
Oftentimes, when life overwhelms, we feel as though we are in the wilderness, far away from all of humanity, and all alone. Sometimes when our energy (both physical and emotional) is spent, all we can seem to do is sit down defeated.
Elijah was there, sitting under the juniper tree, there in the wilderness, after running as fast as he could to escape his imminent death. There, we read his plea: “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”
THEN WE SEE THE LORD’S AMAZING GRACE!
THERE WE SEE HOW GOD GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO LIVE!
God’s Purpose is for Our Good. May we see those words again and again, daily repeated so our inner being begins to understand this Promise of God.
GOD’S PURPOSE IS FOR OUR GOOD!
As we talked, sitting near one another with only the corner of my office desk separating us. When she came in, she pulled the door closed behind her, and I immediately knew what she had to share was important and intimate. “Thank You, God, for helping this one feel at peace sharing her burden with me,” I whispered in my head, as she took her seat. For a long time, I listened as she shared. Then, I did the best I could do to alleviate her burden, what was in my power to do.
My day had been filled with numerous student requests—
- An email requesting, “Could we have a Zoom meeting?”
- An email and then a hand raised requesting a private talk at the start of class.
- A solitary student, a new student from Uganda, standing alone on the sidewalk while a group laughed and played in the grass. A pause from my walking and a question and then a calling out to the group leader, introducing the two, leaving them talking as I walked on toward Carter Hall.
Students waiting after each class, needing just a moment of time to speak with me.
The world where we live is filled with God’s creation, with humanity &
- We can either pause in our going, stopping in our day to listen, to pray, to assist—OR—
- We can walk on, going about our day, focused only on what we need to accomplish.
GOD’S PURPOSE IS FOR OUR GOOD!
- May we do all the good we can do while there remains time.
- May we say all the good we can while there remains time.
- May we love as Jesus loves, thanking God for those He places into our daily path.
Elijah was sustained by the Lord. God’s prophet requested to die, and the Lord gave Elijah nourishment and drink and rest instead. Elijah thought giving up was the only way of escape, and the Lord gave Elijah His presence instead. When he thought his life was over, Jehovah took his child to the mountain of God.
- When Elijah prayed, “O LORD, take my life,” God gave his child the strength to live!
- When Elijah fell into a depressed state, God gave his child HOPE!
- When Elijah’s anxiety was real, God reminded his child: HE (GOD) WAS REAL TOO!
I find it quite amazing how God sustains us, protects us, provides for us, and loves us immensely. In reading this account of Elijah fleeing Queen Jezebel’s death threat, I am reminded of the words of the apostle Paul as he wrote words of encouragement to the believers living in Rome, to those who thought their battle was theirs alone to face.
“What then shall we say to these things?
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 31-34 NASB)
If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him over for us all,
how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
God is the one who justifies;
who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is He who died,
yes, rather who was raised,
who is at the right hand of God,
who also intercedes for us.”
Lest we never forget—GOD’S PROMISE—GOD’S PURPOSE IS FOR OUR GOOD!