God’s Comfort

This passage deals with the prophet Elijah, who, after winning a great victory on Mount Carmel, fled in fear at Jezebel's threat. When Elijah, in despair, asks even before God to die, God does not rebuke him but gives him bread and water and comforts him as if gently touching him. This is the love of God, who recognises that however great our faith, human beings are weak and can stumble.

The sermon points out how we often expect from God only supernatural miracles or outward works. Elijah waited for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but God came in a still small voice. This shows that God is not one who reveals himself through power that startles us, but one who is with us in the depths of our hearts and conveys deep love and grace. It also reminds us that even in the loneliness of feeling that we carry our mission alone, there are many unseen fellow workers whom God protects.

When we sense God's careful guidance and listen for his still small voice, we can lay down our fear. When we see the fellow workers in faith God has placed beside us, feel the love of Christ who intercedes for us, and set out on our way toward the kingdom of heaven, can we remain humble and not proud, whatever mission he entrusts to us?