Finding our way

A few years ago a friend came to talk about her anxieties. She was frustrated, couldn't get anything accomplished. She was spinning her wheels in activitiy, but couldn't find peace.

"What are you avoiding?" I asked. "What is there that you know you have to do, but don't want to do it?"

I had seen her frenetic activity and recognized it. Did I mention that I had been there too?

Immediately she knew what it was, took care of a task she'd been avoiding, and voila' her anxieties were relieved. Life leveled out again.

In II Kings 1, Ahaziah, son of Ahab and Jezebel was having a bad day. He succeeded Ahab, then Moab rebelled. Next Ahaziah had an accident. He fell through a lattice and became very ill. He wanted to know if he would be alright. So, true to his heritage, he sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub for his prognosis.

Now, it wasn't that Ahaziah didn't know about God. Elijah was the prophet of God and Ahaziah well knew it. But he didn't want to hear from Elijah. He didn't want to hear truth. He wanted to hear good news. So he sent for the "Lord of the Flies" to give him a positive message. (II Kings 1:9)

Sometimes the answer -- or where to seek the answer is right in front of us. Frantic activity results when we are so determined to avoid what we perceive is bad news, a relationship we're afraid to fix, or a job we don't want to do.

True Jehovah style, God aroused Elijah and instructed him. Elijah arrived, prophesied death, and departed. True Ahaziah style, he sent captains to inquire of Elijah, trying to get him to change his mind. It took the death of two captains and their men before the third wised up and acknowledged God.

I wonder what would have happened had Ahaziah been man enough to inquire of Elijah in the first place? I

I think I need to spend some time contemplating just what it is that I'm avoiding.

Pastor Phylis