THE CAVE OF HEARTBREAK

Yes, you are on a journey. But where are you going? Many people try to flee from their pain. But running away won’t help, because you’re carrying the pain no matter where you go.

Elijah went inside a cave in Horeb, which in Hebrew mean “desolation.” Quite a fitting place for someone whose spirits have sunk rock bottom. But it is also the place of divine appointment. Horeb was the place where God met Moses through the burning bush (Exodus 3.) Here, God will again reach out to a spent, hurting man.

There he went into a cave and spend the night. And the word of the Lord came to him, “what are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

(v.9-10)

God told Elijah to get out of the cave and stand on the mountain (v 11). A great wind came and tore the mountains apart. This was followed by an earthquake. Finally a fire. In each instance, the Bible tells us that the Lord was in none of them. But where was Elijah during the wind, earthquake and fire? Still in the cave! Only after God gave a gentle whisper did he step out of the cave.

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave..

(v.139)

Why did God bother to send wind, earthquake and fire? Many will say it is to remind Elijah of His great power. Thus he should have nothing to fear from Jezebel. That can be so. But I also noticed that despite God telling Elijah to leave the cave, he was so depressed that he remained inside. When did the prophet finally get up? After a gentle whisper.

What did Elijah hear in the gentle whisper? What did God say? What we’d give to find out! But it did the task. Elijah emerged from his cave.

When we are so absorbed in our pain, we want to hole up in our caves of self-pitying isolation. In a related concept, David was extremely depressed when he penned Psalm 142. Its title says, “When he was in the cave.” Are you still in the cave of despair and heartbreak? We need to listen less to the voice of our pain and more to the voice of God. God’s power can impress or terrify, but will not soothe our hurts. God’s compassion does.

God lovingly draws us out of our caves. We have a tender, tender God! He knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14.) He welcomes us to lay bare our wounded heart. We have a heavenly Father, not a celestial drill sergeant. I do not think God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” In a barking, disappointed or condemnatory way. I think it was laden with compassion. How do we know? The gentle whisper.

God repeated the same question to Elijah. Interestingly, he gave the same response, virtually word for word (v. 13-14.) Could this be a symptom of mental fatigue? When we are brokenhearted the same woe-is-me line runs again and again in our minds..

“Nobody loves me. Nobody will ever love me!”

“I will never get married!”

“I will be alone and lonely for the rest of my life!”

Thus, we withdraw from people and nestle ourselves in the darkness. But God comes and seeks to break this destructive cycle, if we let Him. The way is to behold anew His greatness: the wind, earthquake and fire. Then feel His gentleness: the soft whisper. If God has great power but no gentleness, He would be a brutal Taskmaster. If He is gentle but no great power, He would be sentimental yet impotent. But we have a God who is both: Mighty in power, yet “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29.) Today, rest yourself in the hands of our awesome, yet tender Jehovah.

Our study won’t be complete without how God gave him another task: To train Elisha as his successor. By this time, Elijah had no objections. He didn’t insist on going solo. God’s gentleness had so healed his hurt that that he accepted someone to take under his wings. We have seen God meeting Elijah’s physical and emotional needs. Now, He is filling his social needs. Truly, our God will supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19.)

By the way, in 2 Kings 2, we again see Elijah’s tendency to go on his own. In his last journey, Elijah wanted Elisha to stay behind. Three times he instructed his protégé to remain. But in each time, Elisha refused, insisting, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you” (vv.2,4,6.)

Elijan, the Lone Ranger prophet who wanted to die, was no longer alone. As God did for Elijah, so will He give you companions to ease your loneliness; perhaps even a faithful spouse if it is His will.

May you find God in your personal Horeb and let Him lead you back to people.

“IN YOUR CAVE OF PAIN, LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD.”

From the Book: How to Mend a Broken Heart

Written By: Nelson T. Dy

God Bless Us..

cabreraflorina.blogspot.com

ios.florinac@gmail.com