What Are You Doing Here?

 Asking questions helps us to reflect on ourselves and the world around us. Lots of questions can be found in the Bible. Today, I focus on one of the questions found in the Old Testament in the Bible. It's found in I Kings 19 😊. That chapter may sound familiar to some as that's the chapter I preached from when I did my initial sermon. Let me tell you, this chapter won't let me go and that's a good thing! In the chapter, we find God asking Elijah a question. Elijah is a man of God who is a prophet, one who is a messenger from God who shares future events. In this particular chapter, we see Elijah is in a low place because he is the only one of God's prophets left and the king's wife has threatened his life. Therefore, he is on the run for his life and is in a cave at the mountain of Horeb. It's there that God finds him (God knew he was there anyway!) and asked him the question, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (v. 9). Elijah gives God an honest answer. Now, I need to stop right here and encourage us to ask ourselves the same question God asked Elijah 💚. It's okay for us to admit our fears, concerns, worries, and doubts. Like Elijah, we all have been (or may be currently) in a low or difficult place in life. It's our response and the steps we take after that make a difference. We see later in chapter 19 that Elijah didn't stay in the place he was in for the whole chapter. He got up and followed God's instructions because there was more to his story. You need to know that there is more to our story and you are not alone😊! Go read the whole chapter when you get a chance- it's good!! Every day, we need to reflect and ask ourselves on what we are doing here. Our life does matter and you and I are here for a reason. In thinking about the word "here," it could be an actual physical location you're at (home, work, school/college, community, church, building, etc.). Here could also be in our mindset and on social media. When we think about where we are, we need to be ready to respond like Elijah was. Sometimes, our response is positive because what we're doing here is helping us. However, there are times when our response is filled with hurt, worry, and pain and healing needs to keep happening. Both happen and are okay because none of us are perfect. Let's be intentional about our here when we can, especially when it comes to what we're thinking and looking at on social media. We don't have to let negativity, the past and comparison be on repeat in our minds. We don't have to go back to what could have been and what was not healthy and good for us. Notice when God asked Elijah the question, he said Elijah's name. He didn't ask Elijah about anyone else- just him. That's the self-reflection that we need to do daily. Let's take a close look at ourselves and what we're doing, saying, thinking and listening to. Let's look at how and why we handle the situations and conversations the way we do. So, here is what we need to think about. Should I be at the here I am currently? Am I making here worse or better? Let's think about where we are and then what we need to do to keep moving forward. Let's keep doing self-reflection and choose better 💚. What are you doing here? May God continue to bless you!