Most of us have times when the challenges of life get to be too much. We find ourselves overwhelmed by difficulties, illnesses, financial worries, the state of the world, the news, and stress of all kinds. We live in a day of rapid change. The law is being grossly ignored. Our history is being bulldozed to clear the way for development. Some professors are twisting the guideposts in the minds and hearts of our students. Traditions are forgotten, manners ignored. The result is a kind of chaos -- social confusion and rootless individualism. We live in a society that's lost its bearings and is adrift on a sea of change .At those times we may feel much like the Biblical character, Elijah.
He prayed for death saying: “This is enough, O LORD!” (1 Kings 9:1)
It is too much. When I hear of be-headings, babies being burned, abortions with impunity…it is too much. When a child is molested and abused…it is too much. When a family is hit with one illness or tragedy after another…it is enough. When there seems to be no end to hunger, hatred, anger, apathy…it is enough, O Lord.
What are we to do at these times? Maybe, like Elijah, take a nap and get away from it all for a bit. But when we wake we must turn to the Lord. Trust in Jesus with all your heart, mind and will. God’s angels provided the hearth cake and water that Elijah needed for his journey. God’s Son provided food for the multitudes multitudinous times! And Jesus will provide for us. Not only will He provide for us so that we can do what we must, He IS what we need! He IS our strength. He IS our hope. He IS our healer. He IS the Bread of Life! NO mere metaphor or symbolic language here. He IS all that and more!
Trust in Him.
Prayerfully, Father Mike