Clarify Personal Vision and Direction
I Kings 19:3-4
And [Elijah] was afraid, and got up and ran for his life… But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.
Have you ever lost your way? Have you ever found yourself throwing a pity party or viewing life as hopeless? Have you ever asked God “Why?” or “Why me?” That is exactly where we find Elijah when we come to I Kings 19. He enjoyed a great spiritual victory in I Kings 18, and now his life is threatened and he is running away in discouragement and fear. So, God gives him rest, food and water then sends him on a journey. While on that journey, Elijah ends up bearing his heart in honesty with God from inside a cave. “Then he came there to a cave and spent the night there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they have sought to take my life.” (v. 9-10)
Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted. He had lost his way, not after a spiritual defeat, but after a spiritual victory. God’s question to Elijah is important: “What are you doing here?”
I am so thankful God is patient with us. He doesn’t condemn Elijah. He refreshes him. He gives Elijah food, nourishment, rest and friendship. And one chapter later in I Kings 20 Elijah returns to his calling as the prophet of God.
What about you? Have you lost vision or direction for your future? Have you lost a sense of calling and hear God saying, “What are you doing here?” Your situation might be related to burnout, failure, strained relationships or circumstances that are out of your control. Here are a few practical steps that can help you clarify your vision and direction.
Prioritize physical rest and refreshment. Twice in I Kings 19 Elijah ate, drank and slept. Commit to a healthy diet and adequate rest. Rest and refreshment can greatly improve our ability to think, discern, make wise decisions and improve our outlook on life. (Psalm 4:8)
Trust that God is not finished with you. In I Kings 19:7 God told Elijah that there was still a journey for him to make. It takes faith to trust God when life overwhelms you. Trust that you are not at the end; there is still work God has for you to do. (Philippians 1:6)
Find a friend. As I Kings 19 comes to an end we meet Elisha, the one that God would call to follow Elijah. But not only would Elijah pass the mantle of leadership to him, Elisha would become Elijah’s friend. Find a friend, a confidant and a companion you can invest in and will be willing to invest in you. (Proverbs 27:17)
Identify and return to the place where you got off track. Elijah got off track when his life was threatened and he ran in fear instead of trusting God to protect him. Elijah got back on track by returning to his calling. This helps us know where to begin. Start where you got off track and identify the wrong turn you might have taken. Recall the vision God gave you at the beginning, and as you take steps of obedience, trust God to multiply your opportunities for influence. (Isaiah 30:15)
By beginning with these steps, you can begin to see clearly again, head in the right direction, and experience restoration in body and spirit. Instead of continuing to feel defeated with a clouded vision and hopelessness that comes from an “it is what it is” mentality, begin to walk by faith and obedience, trusting God to clarify your vision and guide you each step of the way.