Nougat 9

Are you familiar with the phrase ’walk a mile in someone’s shoes’? Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about that phrase in relation to our own lives.

“Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭4‬, ‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m normally challenged by Elijah’s plunge into sudden depression after his victory over Ahab and Jezebel. It is as though his entire adrenaline supply dried up and left a shell of a man. And while that may be what happened, some of us would argue that a direct death promise can have that effect on most people. My issue was, Elijah fearlessly challenged all those priests of Baal and proved YHWH as God in a season that was one of Israel’s lowest spiritually. It seems incongruous that on the heels of that moment, Elijah became a depressed fugitive …

Until we land in Elijah’s shoes

My disappointment flowed over to the extent that I couldn’t appreciate that he asked God for death instead of trying to do so himself. And that’s significant – for it assures us that even when we find ourselves languishing in the Valley of Shadows: of Debt, of Death, of Disease, of Divorce, of Depression, of Devastation … God’s truly with us. So much so that we can take our cares and honestly express our concerns.

Are we truly honest with God?, or do we wear masks hoping against hope that, like many others, God fails to see our pain? If so, despite my prior apathy that reflects the apathy of others, please recognize that God’s love supersedes others’ opinions – good or bad. And the light of God’s love can remove all fear cast by the shadows: of debt, death, disease, divorce, depression and/or devastation …

When we walk in Elijah’s shoes

What I noticed in addition to what I’ve shared is God’s response. Who would have thunk God would send an angel to personally feed Elijah and give him a personal message that turned his life around? Not once, but at least twice (see where it says “came again and touched him and said”). God was responding to the same distressed Elijah. He was still deeply enmeshed in self-pity. But never so deep that he was outside of God’s reach. His cry for help touched God’s heart. And that’s why we know God will hear us too.

If we cry out from Elijah’s shoes

Elijah’s shoes can very easily be our own. We might even lend them to another who needs the healing grace that only God can give. Can we offer them now – through prayer – to someone in need?

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May all we seek be found in Christ