Strengthened to hear the voice of God

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever felt spiritually alone and completely finished? Maybe this is one of those years that you’ve heard the Christmas carol “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin, and as it ends with the wish that all your days be merry and bright, and that all your Christmases be white. Not only are the meteorologists saying that it will be almost 60 degrees on Christmas - so probably not a white Christmas here - but some of you have reasons that your days might not be cheery and bright. Maybe you’re sick or recovering from sickness. Maybe your heartbroken over a recent death of a family member or friend. Maybe you’re just really stressed and frazzled. Maybe there’s stress at work or family drama or something else going on. You could be a bit depressed or lonely. Then, Irving Berlin and all the hopes for a “white Christmas” come along and you feel lackluster for not being “in the Christmas spirit” right now. Sometimes, people feel guilty for having a “blue Christmas” instead of a “white Christmas” and maybe you’re one of those people this year, and maybe you feel bad about it.

The prophet Elijah had a time when he experienced the blues, not because of a busy season in his life, but because he thought that he was the only person with faith left. That seems strange, because the Lord had sent Elijah to the wicked king, Ahab, to tell him that the Lord was sending a drought against Israel for their idolatry. The Lord provided food for Elijah, first having him fed by ravens at a brook, and then having him stay with a widow and her son. While Elijah was there, the Lord miraculously provided oil and flour for them. Then, the Lord sent Elijah to Ahab so there would be a chance for the Lord to reveal that He is real, and that the idols of Ahab were fake. The Lord sent fire from heaven to burn up Elijah’s sacrifice, and then Elijah put the false prophets of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel to death. Elijah ran out into the wilderness to avoid the wrath of Jezebel, and that’s when we hear about Elijah curled up under the broom tree, waiting to die because he’s had enough.

That seems strange. Elijah has been miraculously preserved by God, and calls down fire from heaven because God is real and God listens to Elijah, and now Elijah wants to lay down and die because nobody cares about the Lord. If you would have just seen the Lord’s presence in those ways, would you be demoralized and depressed and ready to give up like Elijah? You’d like to say no, but the truth is that there are times that no matter how much the Lord provides for you, there are still times when you despair and want to give up.

Thankfully for Elijah, that’s when the angel of the Lord came to him and touched him, providing bread and water for him to eat and drink. Remember, the angel of the Lord is no ordinary angel like Gabriel, but this is the Son of God before the birth of Jesus. In other words, the Lord Himself appeared to Elijah to give him bread and water to strengthen him. Elijah ate and drank and laid down again. The angel of the Lord came again, and Elijah ate and drank again, and then went to Mount Horeb, also called Mount Sinai. Then, as he was in a cave, the word of the Lord asked Elijah why he was there, and Elijah complained to the Lord that he was the only faithful prophet left, and his life was in peril. Then, there was a strong wind, then an earthquake, then a fire - but the Lord wasn’t in the wind or the earthquake, or the fire. That’s when the Lord spoke to Elijah in a small voice, and the Lord instructed Elijah to anoint a new king and a prophet, and that there were 7000 who were still faithful to the Lord. In the midst of Elijah’s loneliness and fear that the Lord abandoned Elijah and his people, the Lord cared for Elijah and came to him directly.

Tonight, none of you are lying in a fetal position under a broom tree - at least, not literally. You might still feel lonely and blue and despair that you feel alone, even separated from God and His goodness. The Lord provided bread and water for Elijah, and spoke to him in a small voice. The Lord does something even clearer for you. No small voices for you saints - instead, the Lord Himself has come, speaking to you the fullness of His grace and mercy. The Lord has come, born in a manger, teaching with authority, dying on the cross, rising from the empty tomb, and ascending into heaven for you. And if you feel alone and separated from God’s mercy, Jesus Christ doesn’t leave you bread and water. Instead, He is the living bread from heaven and the living water who comes to you. He speaks to you, declaring that your sins are forgiven. He washes you clean in baptism, and He gives you His own body and blood to eat and to drink as you are united in HIm.

The Lord came to Elijah, promising that Elijah was not alone. The Lord comes to you, promising that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Rejoice in the Lord your God who comes to you. When you feel like you’re alone and there’s not much to celebrate, when you feel guilty for not being full of Christmas cheer, when you wonder if you will be happy or content, receive the peace that Jesus Christ brings to you. This is no mere emotion or feeling. This can’t be conjured up by any Christmas carol on the radio. Instead of a feeling, you have the full measure of God’s grace and presence, given to you as Your Lord comes to you. Rejoice and be glad. You aren’t alone. The Lord hasn’t given up on you. You have a Savior, no matter if you are under a broom tree, in a cave, sitting in a church pew, or anywhere else. The Lord has come for you. The living bread, the living water, the incarnate Word of the Lord who is Jesus has come for you, and in His strength, you are preserved forevermore. Amen.