1 Kings 19:3-4a Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
“The wilderness is a place of dying…where all the things that cause you to stumble in your walk with God….ARE KILLED”. – T D Jakes.
Wilderness is a place of loneliness. Wilderness is a place of depression, despair and dejection. Elijah had all the able bodied men of Israel with him the previous day on Mount Carmel when he brought fire and rain down from heaven on the same day. He massacred all the prophets of Baal and Asherah who dined at the table of the wicked Queen Jezebel. Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there (1 Kings 18:40). After the mighty revival in Israel, the potent of the powerful prophet was weakened by the threats of the queen. He fled for his life, alone. He even left his servant on the way and escaped into the wilderness.
The canvas of our life is painted with mountain tops, valleys and wilderness experiences. God permits us to flee from the mountain top into the wilderness of loneliness not to dishearten us but to recuperate us. Wilderness is not a lonely place but a place alone with God. Wilderness is the place where we realize that our worldly or spiritual achievements in our business, ministry or career mean nothing. It is a place where we feel we have no one to support or stand with us. We feel no one understands what we are going through. Dejection creeps in due to entitlement mentality. We tend to think that God doesn’t care and He has not kept an account of what we have done for him. Elijah felt the same. He felt lonely and abandonment but it was his alone-time with the Lord that strengthened him for the next phase of his ministry journey.
Wilderness is alone-time with the Lord:
1. Seclude: Wilderness makes us feel secluded from the rest of the world. Elijah complained twice to the Lord – “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:14b). It is a lie from the devil that we are the only ones suffering and God has forsaken us. We are secluded from worldly distractions to sink and soak in God’s presence.
2. Suicidal: Wilderness brings suicidal thoughts. We might be ashamed of the thoughts that storm us in the wilderness such as ‘I’m done’, ‘I can’t take it anymore’. Even Elijah said, “Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4b). Rebuke the suicidal, defamatory, detrimental and derogative thoughts.
3. Succumb: Wilderness experience is not to hinder our progress but to kill anything that blocks our progress. We must surrender to the Lord and not submit to our circumstances. Don’t succumb to fear but kill dread, envy and pride.
Wilderness is alone-time with God.
1 Kings 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.
Prayer: Father God, help me to strengthen myself in you and when I feel lonely remind me that it is my alone-time with you. Amen.
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