You Are Not Alone

I do not know who needs to hear this today… but I really felt like I needed to say it.

It is a story that has stuck with me for years.
I have wrote about it.  Spoke on it.  And taught lessons on it.

The text can be read in its entirety in 1 Kings 18 and 19.

The story is of the prophet Elijah.

To make a long story short he had just witnessed God’s loving favor in chapter 18.
In a contest upon Mount Carmel, Elijah proved to the prophets of Baal that his God was the One true God of Israel.  
And as a result, Elijah’s men wiped out the entirety of the prophets of Baal who had insisted upon worship of worldly little “g” gods, and Elijah successfully had them demolished in the Kishon Valley.

In addition to this success, Elijah also participated in the lifting of the drought that had plagued the nation for over 3 years.  Scripture tells us that, “The Lord gave special strength to Elijah.”  (1 Kings 18:46)

And then King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, got involved.
And it would seem to Elijah all was lost.
That it was over.

And he ran for his life.
He hid in a cave.
He cowered in fear.

And he told the Lord twice, “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  (1 Kings 19:10)

And they were.

But not all of his statement was correct.

He wasn’t the only one left.

God would tell him, “I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him.”  (verse 18)

Unbeknownst to Elijah - he wasn’t alone.

There WERE more out there.

There was, indeed, a rescued remnant who were being preserved by God.

Some commentators call it, “God’s Remainder.”

If you are anything like me, sometimes it can be lonely.
This serving God.  
This choosing of right living.

It can be hard.
And all can seem uphill.

But you are not alone.

Maybe you just haven’t found your tribe yet.

Or maybe God is calling you to be in a season of separation, so that He can form you and mold you and prepare you for the greatness He has for you.

2020 made us all feel a little lonely.
And 2021 isn’t shaping up to be a lot more improved - albeit more tolerable.

But maybe we’re not alone after all.
Maybe there are others out there who, in walking the same path, need reminded that they, too, are not alone.

In all honesty, I am a recovering numbers-centered girl.
I falsely looked to numbers as a measuring stick for success.

If this amount of people liked a post - I was worthy.
If this amount of people came to a study I hosted - I was a good teacher.
I this amount of positive responses came from a choice I made - I was validated.

But I was wrong.

And I am not alone.

Elijah had it wrong too.
He was using the wrong method of measurement to legitimize his effectiveness.

By the way it looked - all was lost.
He was alone.
And if he would have been better… done better… had more strength… he would have seen greater success.

But God had a hidden number of “remnant” people that Elijah knew nothing about.

And so just maybe there was victory after all.
Just maybe God kept the success hidden for Elijah’s protection.

Maybe you can’t see your effectiveness right now.
Maybe it’s lonely where you sit.

Elijah thought himself to the the only surviving remnant.  He judged incorrectly.

My commentary says this, “True greatness doesn’t stand in great results that can be seen.  Success doesn’t lie in numbers counted.  Power is stored up in hidden places and in lonely consciences.  Do away with measuring God’s power with your geometry or estimating His army by arithmetic.  Do the duty that lies nearest you.  It scatter doubt; overcomes opposition; breaks up despair.  The Almighty takes care of His reserves.”

And I will leave it at that. Something for you to ponder.
So so so good!

Be encouraged today, friends.

You are not alone!