The Drained Condition

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 Kings 18:18-40; 1 Kings 19:1-18

 [In this series, we will be looking at people in the Bible who lived in the wilderness. Not necessarily a wilderness of natural creation, but the metaphorical wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is always with you.]

  

My Grandson loves to win! As a second grader, he is sixth in a school wide cross country running contest. That means he’s beating kids that are three grades older than him. I’m sure he wins fair and square. But sometimes, when he competes against his grandparents, I’m not so sure.

 

He has a set of toys called Beyblades. Some time ago, he had an overnight with Grandpa and Nonna. For fun, he set up a Beyblade tournament. We’d never heard of Beyblades, let alone how to play. Not surprisingly, he whipped Nonna and Grandpa every time! I think it was rigged.

 

Elijah was involved in a competition that was rigged; only he rigged it in favor of his opponents, the prophets of Baal. The purpose of the contest was to see whose god was the true god. It was agreed upon by both sides that each would prepare a sacrifice. Then whichever god started the sacrificial fire first, “He is God”.

 

The 450 prophets of Baal shouted out to their god all day long while dancing and cutting themselves to get a response, but without success. At the end of the day, Elijah prepared his sacrifice; had it thoroughly drenched with water three times; and then quietly prayed to the Lord. Immediately, the fire consumed everything.

 

These events were a mountaintop experience for Elijah. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord while confronting the powers of evil; even Ahab, the king of Israel. You could easily imagine that Elijah had an adrenaline high. No doubt, it was an emotional day.

 

Despite this miraculous display of the Lord’s power, when Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life… he ran into the wilderness.

 

³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”   NIV

 

Sometimes living in the wilderness can sneak up on you when it’s least expected. In fact, an emotional high often leads to an emotional low. Gordon McDonald wrote about this in his book “Restoring Your Spiritual Passion”. He called it, “the drained condition”. It’s a common experience. So what can you do?

 

¹¹ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain… After the wind there was an earthquake… ¹² And after the earthquake there was a fire… And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.                NLT

 

So what can you do? Follow Elijah’s example. Find a place to hear the still small voice of the Lord, and then follow Him.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams