What’s Giving You the Blues? Sample

1 Kings 17:2-5

“You Have Every Right To Be Mad”

I read the Bible to grow in my faith. Sometimes I go to its pages looking for knowledge. But often I go looking for fellowship. To me, it's a comfort and an encouragement to see fellow believers from long ago process experiences that we are still working through today. Some things just never change. Family drama, economic pressure, unfair and unjust laws, depression, let down, betrayal, disappointment, all of it. It's all there. Now of course I've never made the rain stop or called down fire from heaven  - but then again, I’m still young. Gimmie some time! 

Lately, I feel pretty connected to the Prophet Elijah. I can't help but notice how Elijah's moods reflect the way that my emotions can swing. Up one day, down the next. Now, it is academically irresponsible to try to reach back into the past and diagnose a person with something that really didn't exist at the time, but sometimes I wonder if he struggled with depression or was bipolar. I can tell you that, as a performer, my moods can swing rapidly - the adrenaline rush of being on stage can drop like a hot rock when you see the reviews of the show on social media.  Like Elijah, sometimes my lowest moments are right after my highest wins. 

In our current culture, we’re all one step away from being “cancelled.” On social media, it feels like no matter what you do, 50% of the people are going to be mad at you. But worse still than the appearance of a bad day on social media is living in the real world. Some of you have experienced pain at a level the rest of us cannot imagine. Some of you reading this have endured abuse and trauma and anguish that, on every level possible, is not your fault. And I’m so sorry.

In the Netflix film, MA RAINEY, there’s a scene in the basement of the recording studio where one of the musicians tells a painful and ugly story about his former love that leaves the audience feeling that he has every right to be upset - because it was not his fault. In 1 Kings, after accomplishing quite a victory for the children of Israel, Elijah finds himself running for his life. We could re-read the story hundreds of times and in no way does Elijah deserve this type of treatment - especially because he did what God told him to do! Elijah has every right to be upset, every right to be sad, every right to wonder, “this was not my fault.” 

The hard truth? Sometimes bullies win. Sometimes cheaters prosper. Sometimes, even when you do the right thing, you end up losing. But in this crushing, lonely, low moment we see something that shows that Elijah is absolutely not alone. The Scriptures say that ravens come - and feed him. Just for a second, think about the image. The Lord - the Creator - has His creation bring Elijah “comfort food.” (if it’s ever me out in that desert, I’m hoping those ravens bring me chili fries!) And remember at the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus appears after his resurrection to get Peter, and what does he do? He makes him breakfast. More comfort food.

Sometimes, the simple things in life can comfort. We all know whatever the ravens brought him ain't gonna fix the problem - but in the worst moments, it’s often just good to know that you’re loved.

One of the things the Scriptures also teach us (and that I’ve also learned in experiencing this type of pain) is to not draw a conclusion before the story is over. Sometimes it can feel as though God has abandoned us; that God is silent or absent. But maybe He’s not done weaving His story! Maybe we’ve ended the story before the story ends.

If in this moment you are suffering, know that it’s okay to be upset. But never forget that God loves you, and that His ravens are coming to refresh you. In my life, I've had ravens sent to me in the form of friends, and family. I pray that, every day, I can be a raven for someone.

When you pray: 

• Pray that God will mold you into a listening empathizer, rather than a talking advisor.
• Ask God to help you be okay with sitting in the discomfort of others and seek out ways be a comforting raven to them.
• If you’re in a world of pain, ask the Lord to find a way for comfort and renewal.