"God is our shelter, our strength Ever ready to help in time of trouble"
Ps. 46
In the first Book of Kings 19 : 1 – 14 we read that Elijah the prophet spent a night in a cave near Horeb. Yahweh appeared to him and asked him what he wanted. Elijah said, “The sons of Israel have deserted you and killed all the prophets. I am the only one left and they want to kill me also.” He was told to go and stand on the mountain and wait for Yahweh. A mighty wind came. Yahweh wasn”t in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. Yahweh wasn”’t there either. Then came a fire. No Yahweh there. Finally there came a gentle breeze. At this Elijah covered his face with his clock and went and stood at the entrance to the cave. Yahweh spoke to him and said, “What are you doing here Elijah?”
Yahweh comes to each of us in many different ways. Usually he comes in the ordinary events of our everyday lives, times of joy or sorrow, times of worry and anxiety. Very often, we are not aware of God”s presence. We are so busy we forget about God. Like Elijah, we might find Him in a gentle breeze, in a kindness shown to us, in a friendly smile.
Sometimes what seems to us to be a disaster could be a turning point in our lives revealing God””s wonderful love for us. God loves us always. He is always there for us whether we realise it or not. St. Paul says “I live now not my own life, but the life of Christ who dwells within me.” Galatians 2 : 20 The poet, Francis Thompson tells us in the “Hound of Heaven” that we spend our lives running away from the God who loves us and is forever pursuing us.
Prayer
Prayer : Lord, I thank you for your everlasting goodness and your love that knows no ending. When I am under pressure you are always there for me. Help me to see your hand in the challenges, successes and failures of daily life. Renew my confidence and trust in you. This I ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
