Reflecting on Christ

It always takes a couple of days to recover from camp.

It's not just the physical exhaustion either.  That goes away after a good night's sleep.  It's the mental exhaustion that sticks with you. 

After six days of teenagers, a tight schedule, a new routine, processing God's word, dynamic preaching and worship, late night conversations and even pranksters, your mind grows weary.  I find it takes three or four days before you mentally recover from a week-long youth trip. 

I liken it to the story of Elijah.  After battling the prophets of Baal and proving that God is the only true God and after ending the drought, Elijah flees.  He calls out to God in despair in 1 Kings 19.

10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Here Elijah has just done some magnificent things for the Lord.  He had 450 prophets of Baal killed.  He ended the drought.  He proclaimed God's name among the people of Israel.  Now, in a moment of weakness, he cries out to God in fear and anxiety.

Elijah is tired.  He's weary and weak.  It's in those weak moments that God speaks to him.  He takes him on a journey that last 40 days, then God gives Elijah his next assignment.

It never says in scripture the whys of the journey.  Why did he have to travel for 40 days?  Why did he have to go to a special place to meet God?  Why was he going through such despair?

I tend to believe the 40-day journey was for Elijah's benefit.  He needed some time alone with God.  He needed to be restored and loved.  He needed some time away from everything that had taken place. 

At the end of those 40 days, Elijah had an amazing encounter with God.  Despite all the distractions - an earthquake, fire and raging wind - he heard God's still, small voice speak to him.

Sometimes after a mountain top, faith experience, we need a few days to process what the Lord has done.  We need some time to rest and recover and be ready for the next great movement of God.

Take some time.  Breathe in his presence.  Stand in front of King Jesus.  Soak him in.  And when you're ready, be listening for his next instructions.

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