Ostriches are fascinating...animals? birds? a hybrid of the two? Any way, ostriches can grow to 9 ft. tall, weigh up to 350 lbs., can run up to 40 mph and can sustain a 30 mph sprint for 10 miles! If forced to fight, their legs are powerful enough to kill a lion with one kick! Yet, legend has it they stick their heads in the sand when threatened. Actually, the proverbial "sticking their heads in the sand" is connected to their caring for laid eggs, which are laid in a hole they dig in the ground. The truth is that when overcome with fear, the 9 ft. tall, 350 lb. bird able to run 40 miles an hour and kick a lion to death flops down on the ground and lies motionless, hoping the threat won't see them.
One of the most troubling, and personally sobering, maybe a little frightening, moments in scripture takes place in 1 Kings 19. Two chapters earlier, Elijah had selflessly ministered in obscurity to a single widow, she having given up on life, and her starving son. Through Elijah's willingness to serve the widow and her son, he saved both their lives and she professed faith in God. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah stood boldly on a mountain and declared to a wicked king named Ahab and a nation that had turned their backs on God, "If the Lord is God, then follow him..." God showed up, big time, on Mt. Carmel and Elijah saw a nation he loved and risked his life for turn back to the Lord.
But, in 1 Kings 19, the evening of the very day God miraculously turned a nation back to himself through Elijah, Ahab's even more wicked wife Jezebel sent word to Elijah that he'd be dead the next day. The prophet who'd seen God work miraculously the previous 3 years while ministering to the widow and her son and had seen God turn a nation back to himself in a miraculous act of nature, R.A.N. for his life! He prayed that night for God to let him die. He was done, discouraged, depressed and disillusioned with life and even God. The Lord restored him, using the most incredulous components of His creation to communicate his sovereignty to His prophet, and Elijah continued to minister according to God's plan for him. Elijah had "stuck his head in the sand," even after witnessing God's miraculous work in and through him. God reminded Elijah who and WHOSE he was!
As someone who has often struggled with discouragement, disillusionment, and even depression and anxiety, I can really identify with Elijah. At times, after being used by God in unquestionably eternity impacting ministry on mission trips, often seeing someone come to faith in Christ through my ministry, and even after extended periods of impacting ministry, even serving with others, I've found myself wondering "What's the use? Has any difference been made?" and, even "Would anyone really miss me if I was no longer around?" I feel there is a general sense of discouragement, disillusionment, and even questioning whether we're making any difference among many Christians, and the Church in general right now. One of the consequences of the scaling back of worship gatherings and ministry is we allowed ourselves to default into survival mode, to turn inward, and the Church was never intended to JUST survive and focus on "us 4 and no more!" I want to say to us all, THIS is THE time, if there's ever been one, for us to shout, with our voices and through our service to this world, "IF THE LORD IS GOD, THEN FOLLOW HIM!" Let's not let personal struggles with discouragement, disillusionment and even depression prevent us from God impacting the world for His glory through us! Surround yourself with brothers and sisters in Christ who will encourage you and hold you accountable, and most importantly...Remember who and WHOSE you are!
