Yet one day, Elijah hid away in a cave and prayed that God would take away his life. He was hunted and afraid and exhausted. He prayed for death.
God sent a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire--and none of these dramatic scenes revealed God's presence to Elijah as did what followed--a still, small voice. God did not answer the suicidal prophet with a show of glory or overwhelming display of might, but rather with a whisper that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
As I pack up my school supplies from my classroom, take down the scrawls of favorite poems from the walls, and fold up clothes to send to the village, I reflect on what's been a long, long year of startling winds, earthquakes, and fires.
None of these dramatic scenes revealed God's presence to me as did what followed--a still, small voice. Many were the times when I wondered, "Why would God ordain these things to happen to me over the course of this year? Isn't it too much? Why couldn't things have gone precisely the way I wanted them too?"
It doesn't matter, really. God guides through what he ordains to happen; I have to believe that. And when I think of how much I've learned and changed, I can't help but anticipate a year ahead. I return home this week, but I'll be back in Malawi to teach again, trusting the same God who guided a great prophet to Horeb, where He revealed His presence and His plan.
"And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, 'Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." {i kings 19.7-8}
