I have a confession to make. I am a terrible shopper when I am hungry. (Be honest, you are too). I go into the store to grab a tube of toothpaste, and leave with three bags of pizza rolls, a sandwich, and a king size candy bar for later. (Cue the guilt, shame, and promises to do better next time, also, I forgot the toothpaste again.)
Anger is also not my friend. A perfectly good moment to teach my kids about kindness and care to one another turns into me grounding them “until the end of time” or some other edict that is incredibly unreasonable simply because I’m so frustrated, I can’t think straight!
And when I’m tired it doesn’t get much better. Sitting on the couch on a Thursday evening, after a week of pure chaos, one of my children has the audacity to ask if they can have a sleepover with 12 of their closest friends. If I’m not careful, my answer is going to be “yes” and then I’m in trouble. With an adequate amount of sleep, I would never consider the idea, but catch me without sleep, and all bets are off!! (And I get a lil cranky.)
In these moments, I must remind myself of 1 Kings 19. Elijah’s just seen God work in an incredible way on Mt. Carmel in chapter 18 (check it out when you have time). He hears that Queen Jezebel wants to kill him, so he runs away. He gets into the desert and sits down by a bush and tells God to just kill him. He’s suicidal. His life’s work seems pointless. His interactions with other people seem frustrating. No one seems to understand or care about him. He’s alone. He’s tired from running. He’s angry at God and at the people who aren’t following God or doing what they are supposed to do. He’s in desperate need of something drastic…or is he?
Check out 1 Kings 19:5-6, “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “get up and eat”. He looked around, and there by is head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.”
The story goes on to say that the angel fed him again, and he had supernatural strength to travel for 40 days and nights to a place where he could meet with God. God who spoke to him not in an earthquake, not in a fire, not in a hurricane, but in a “gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12).
I must remember all the ways I can hear God speak to me. In the quiet. In the calm. In the boisterous and joyful. Through the sound of my daughter singing her favorite worship song in the next room. In the warmth of his beautifully created sunlight and the sounds of his amazing creation. In the joy on my sons face as he throws a baseball. Through the note left for me by a loved one. And especially through the notes God left for me in the pages of Scripture.
Sometimes, all it takes to be ready to hear from God is a snack, some water, and a nap. Then listen…
Grow Anyway 