Frustrated Faith

Why are you here? God asked Elijah that question as he hid in a cave, desperate to escape the wrath of an angry queen. Elijah was a prophet of the Lord who had just publicly stood in front of a crowd and been witness to an incredible miracle that set God apart from all the other pagan gods. It was an incredible event and he was victorious in the name of the Lord. That sounds like a reason to celebrate! So how did he end up hiding in a cave? Queen Jezebel was mad that he had defeated and murdered the other prophets so she put out a threat on his life. He was scared. So he ran away. He ended up in the wilderness and begged that his life would be over, feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Helped along the way by an angel, but still finding his way into the darkness of a cave. God finds him there and asks, why are you here? Elijah responds that everyone has messed up and he did what was right but is now left alone and in danger. God tells him to get out of the cave and stand on the mountain. There is a strong wind, an earthquake, and a raging fire that blows past the mountain. And then, in just a whisper… Why are you here? Elijah’s response is the same. But this time God tells him to go back through the wilderness and finish His work. God didn’t want him to stay in the cave. He still had plans for Elijah. Elijah was in the cave because of fear and frustration. He lost sight of the God who he had proclaimed and proven as powerful. Have you ever found yourself in a cave? Frustrated with a faith journey that did not lead where you thought it would… Join Emily as she shares how to figure out what it means to have real life faith in the midst of some recent frustrations.