Sometimes all we need is a nap.
If you’ve ever been in a room full of kindergartners, there’s only one word to describe the experience: chaos. They’re cute, sure. But in the blink of an eye they can go from adorable toddlers to hair pulling minions. Throw in some candy and you better run for the door.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve seen some toddler like tendencies in myself as an adult. For example, when someone cuts me off in traffic the fuse between just letting it go and flipping them the bird is real short. Or on those late night grocery runs when all I need is the only item that has conveniently sold out. Or maybe when life falls apart, I’m at the end of my rope, and I decide God had something to do with it. All of these situations can bring out the ugly in me real fast.
Luckily, we’re not alone. 1 Kings 19 portrays beautifully common adult tantrums and the response of a gracious God. In this story, a man named Elijah has hit the end of his rope. After a huge victory over the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, he finds himself cowering when a queen named Jezebel threatens him. Afraid, tired, and emotionally drained, he runs off into the wilderness. Here, overwhelmed and running for his life, he lets fly some ugly, self-centered complaints. I mean, granted, I probably would too.
What surprises me is how the Lord responds. Take a look at verses 4-9.
“4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. ” 1 Kings 19 v.4 – 9
You’ll notice He doesn’t answer Elijah’s tantrum. Instead, He lets him sleep, providing food for his very human hunger. Then again, in verse 10, Elijah is at it again, complaining that God has yet to help him. Yet again, God doesn’t speak to his tantrum. Instead, the Lord calls Elijah to come and stand for He is about to pass by. After mighty shows of wind, earthquake, and fire, finally there is a gentle whisper. In that whisper, God spoke.
This, to me, is beautiful. Instead of yelling at Elijah to get over it, the Lord Almighty met Elijah in his humanness. Imagine you’re face to face with a small child that just threw a tantrum. Do you tower over the child and start yelling? No. Rather, you make sure they get rest. You feed them. Then you get down on their level, draw them close, and speak gently. This is what God does with Elijah. This is what God does with us. Even in our ugliest moments, we have a God who’s not afraid of our tears. We have a God who is compassionate enough to meet our unspoken and unknown needs. So next time you find yourself throwing a tantrum, rest assured that you have a heavenly Father who will not leave you in the middle of your mess.
Photo by Dakota Corbin
