Let’s quickly recap in part 1 we saw the thin silence is: the threshold through which we cross over to the reality of God’s Presence. Oh my don’t we always want to live out of and live there in God’s Presence? We discovered that we are never alone in our painful and Job seasons, and our Father cries with us, He says I am with you, I am here, you are not alone.
Ok so onto Part 2 and the big WHY questions and WHERE questions we have for God that seem to not be answered and how He is inviting us to rephrase them.
Why doesn’t He take the burden and fix it? Why doesn’t He heal the problem and pain? Why is it happening to us? Why do we believe the lie that says you are alone?
Well the answer is a four letter word, LOVE which is the entire nature of God – He is Love and He who LOVES is of God.
Did you know HE LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO TAKE THINGS FROM YOU! Let that sink in and this truth too, that He says You are there because I LOVE You.
Remember the Word says He is all knowing, and that He sees the end reward for you and others that will come or arise from these situations and circumstances.(Roman 8:28)
So let’s get back to the Word and read on,
1 Kings 19:5-8 (NKJV)
“Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God”
Did you see it? The Lord did not answer Isaiah’s prayer the way He wanted it done. Hmm can you relate to experiencing this? Praying and thinking I’m sure God will answer the way I want and He just doesn’t. Well you are not alone, because remember that this result was the same for Jesus and was the same for me.
I mean that instead of God taking the burden off, He provided all the strength that would be needed for the journey to continue. This is exactly how the Father works. I love how the Passion Translation Bible explains this:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (TPT)
The Way of Escape
“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously”.
Wow, read it again and let it become imbedded in you.
YOU ARE A VICTORIOUS SON OR DAUGHTER OF GOD, BECAUSE OF JESUS.
I’m wondering if we could REPHRASE what we think is our end, is actually an opportunity to be promoted and reveal His glory to a world that so needs it.
Hmm, let’s carry on, back to Elijah’s story.
1 Kings 19:9 (NKJV)
“And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Hold on, what the Father does not answer Elijah’s prayer? Instead sends an angel to give him strength, so he can be led by His spirit to a darker place and then once he is in this place, The Father has the nerve to ask him “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Oh my, are you confused? You are not alone! It’s often when we are in these moments we are very confused,disheartened, depressed, despairing. BUT when herewe need to remember scriptures like PROVERBS 3:5-6 and ISAIAH 55:8-9.
And to remember in times we just want to throw in the towel and give up:…(YOUR NAME) WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
The whole journey Isaiah has been on has come to a HALT at this question.
Back to reading
1 Kings 19:10 (NKJV)
“So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Wow, what a vulnerable and honest answer. We need to see that the journey was going to arrive at a question and an invitation to Elijah, as is to us, will you be HONEST, VULNERABLE AND TRANSPARENTwith the Father?
Elijah had reached this point, he was straight up– God You know I’m zealous for You, but Your children have turned their back on You and broken covenant and killed everyone who speaks for You, I’m the only one left and they want to kill me.
The question is are you straight up with God?
Ooh let’s leave it there, and I invite you to join me for part 3 where we will look at the remainder of the scripture 1 Kings 19 and see more of the gems God’s revealed to us.
Challenge Time: Grab your journal and space with the Lord to record all His answers.
1. Lord would you reveal to me how I receive and respond to Your Love, and others love? Draw or write what He says)
2. Lord would you show me how You want me to receive and respond to Your Love and to others love? (Draw or write what He says)
3. Choice time: if you want to lay down the way you receive and respond to LOVE in a new way, God’s way, say a prayer like Father, I choose to give you (the way you receive and respond to love) and I choose to pick up Your way Father (the way He showed you He wants you to receive and respond to love)
4. Ask the Lord is there anything, situation, event that is going on in my life right now, that needs to beREPHRASED, so that you speak Life, Trust and Belief out and over it? (Record all He says again take your time this is not a contest)
5. Ask the Lord are there any places in my life that You’re asking me to halt at and answer honestly, vulnerably and transparently -what I’m doing there? (Record down all He says, one by one, take your time and keep checking in with the Lord)
6. Praise and Raise Time. Put on worship music, lift the name of Jesus.
7. Thank Him, for all He has done and all He is going to do, He is faithful.
Father, thank You that You are LOVE, and Love us so totally, fully and extravagantly as Your sons and daughters. We want to receive and respond to Your love in a living breathing way, as our comforter and counsellor Holy Spirit, would You help us to answer the question: what are you doing here? bravely, vulnerably and honestly, so that we find our way back to Your heart. In Jesus name. Amen.
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate/Apostolic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
