By Steve Stuckey
Steve is a spiritual director with InterVarsity in Southern California. He writes here on this blog to foster spiritual formation for us catalytic leaders. Our hope is to create some space online to not only stir you up to be an APE leader but also help you connect with God well in your soul. He has developed many APE leaders and knows what our strengths as well as struggles are.
[This post is part of a series called Rooted. Find the other posts here]
Elijah the Prophet
His name means El is Yah or God is Yahweh. His job was to confront false religion, clear out the pantheon, and call a recalcitrant people back to their roots. He performed his dangerous task with authority, humility, and humor. Like Moses he had a twin peak experience in life—two high points with a valley in between. (Read 1 Kings 17-19 and view this artistic study). Learning to navigate that type of spiritual geography is an important task for any follower of Jesus, especially for apostles, prophets and evangelists.
Mountain High
Thousands watched on Mt. Carmel as 450 prophets of Baal squared off against one crusty prophet of Yahweh wearing fur and belching baited barbs. The Lord was at work. Fire fell, the sacrifice was consumed, and false prophets were executed while the crowds repeatedly shouted El is Yahweh! El is Yahweh! (or Elijah, Elijah!) He rocketed from political fugitive to religious rock star within hours. Things finally seemed to be headed in the right direction. The people repented, the king acquiesced, and Elijah sprinted to Jezreel to assume his rightful role as prophet to the nation.
Valley Low
But then…there was Jezebel muttering threats. And Elijah’s depleted defenses crumbled. He fled to the desert, found a broom tree and told God, “Let me die. I’ve had enough!”
What happened? I see three contributing factors.
The Three Contributing Factors
1. Fatigue
I mentioned the first one last month, physical fatigue. Notice how sleep and a good meal were used by the Lord to help restore him.
2. Power
Secondly, Elijah was the lead actor in the drama played out on Mt Carmel and the experience must have been intoxicating. For a moment, spiritual power coursed through his veins. He called and fire fell. He commanded and prophets died. He ordered and the king scurried. Warm currents of praise, esteem, and success can cause our spirits to rise like a hot air balloon on a cold day. But in such moments, it is easier to think of ourselves as big and God as small. It is tempting to think that we are more than mere mortals sustained by God’s grace. It is tempting to forget that we are minor actors in a drama that spans the eons. It is tempting to drink the elixir of praise rather than pass it on to the one being in the universe who deserves it.
Peak moments where great spiritual and social energy are released are alluring and seductive and can easily overload our inner resources. This may be when we are most vulnerable to sexual temptation. God helps Elijah guard his heart by encouraging him to wonder but not be distracted by great demonstrations of power. Seek God instead in the sound of silence, the mundane sense of his presence.
3. Optimism
Thirdly, change agents like apostles, prophets, and evangelists are optimistic people. They are the venture capitalists of hope in this world. They supply the spiritual assets that enable people to step out in faith and trust our Lord. But the flip side of that gift is that they are susceptible to market crashes more than most. Elijah hoped that his nation, including the royal household, would return to the Lord. Jezebel popped that bubble and it sent Elijah tumbling.
When Elijah met the Lord on Mt. Horeb forty days later, he received three things. First the Lord gave him a companion, Elisha. It is always better to bear the weight of hope with at least one other person. Secondly, Yahweh encouraged him to not discount the real steps of progress that were made (7000 faithful to Yahweh). Thirdly, he received a new assignment. When a major project comes to an end, reactive depression is a common experience. Our mental energy has nowhere to go so we focus it on ourselves and become depressed. The remedy is to launch into something new.
Questions
The time to prepare for your blue Monday is now, not when you are in it. Here are some questions to get you started.
- Reflect on your most recent Blue Monday experience. What factors contributed to that incident?
- What might you do to resist the ego inflation that comes in a time of great success?
- Who bears the weight of hope with you? Who helps you resist the market fluctuations of hope and think longer term?
[This post is part of a series called Rooted. Find the other posts here]
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