What to Do When the Lord Seems Withdrawn at the Hour of Need Part I

1 Kings 19:10-14 

Christians have a unique promise that God is always with us and will never leave us. This is a promise that encourages us to pray to God every morning and seek God.  Yet, sometimes we ask, "Does God always come to me when I need and call on God?" 

In 1 Kings we read about the ups and downs of Elijah.  He had seen mighty workings of God, but Elijah also experienced God's absence. After Elijah tells King Ahab that God's punishment was coming in the form of a drought, Elijah flees Israel for his life.  During the three years of drought, Elijah was on the run and had seen miracles but also had low moments of despair.  We see in 1 Kings 19:10-14, while Elijah honestly prays to God, Elijah reveals his self centeredness. God had plans to bring Israel back to His worship and remove the prophets of Baal. God also had plans to perfect Elijah. Elijah's heart was not perfect, and it needed more discipline to grow.

Why does God seem to leave us on our own? Here are four reasons why God may appear to have abandoned us. 

1. 1. God sometimes exposes us to low moments so we may have self discovery. Elijah had to deal with his self centeredness, so God allowed troubles to enter Elijah's life (1 Kings 17:20 and 19:10). Even in the end, Elijah does not change his self-centeredness.  
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3. 2. God sometimes wants to develop our spiritual muscles. God wants us to be strong and we need to endure so our faith will grow. 
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5. 3. God sometimes wants us to remember His word and gain new insights (1 Kings 19:10). God wanted to teach Elijah that God appears in great moments as well as insignificant moments. We might not see it or understand it, but God is working always in our lives.  
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7. 4.God sometimes wants us to be used for his greater purpose (1 Kings 18:1-18). God is not just dealing with Elijah. God was also working to do more for His Kingdom and bring more into His Kingdom. 
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