There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and (I Kings 19:9 ESV)
Fear Not… then Solitude
Elijah had seen God do amazing things. Just a little while ago, He saw God embarrass the false priests of Baal, bring unexpected rain, and bring victory against Ahab and Jezebel.
You would expect Elijah to be confident in God.
But even though those fears were overcome, Elijah faced new fears. Jezebel sought revenge. The Israelites still did not like Elijah’s sermons. And so Elijah fled.
After his fear, Elijah sought solitude.
And God spoke to Elijah, there.
After our fears, in between fears, or after new fears, sometimes God is best found in solitude.
In quiet meditation. In quiet prayer. In quiet study of God’s Word. In quiet expectation.
Not in sullen self-pity. Not in terror-driven hiding. Not in rejection of God’s Word, God’s Work, and God’s Wonders.
When we see God victorious over the things that have frightened us, the next step sometimes is quiet reflection.
Perhaps because the distractions are less. Perhaps because in our solitude, we will know we are not alone. Perhaps because silence really is golden.
Fear not, then solitude.