Narcissistic Pity Party

Sunday June 24th, 1 Kings 19: Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets." 3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: "Enough of this, God! Take my life—I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!" Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush. After wiping out all the priest of Baal with the help of God, now Elijah is afraid of Jezebel. We each have our tipping point, and Elijah had met his. How often do we cower from the tasks ahead and never look back to gain strength from all the trouble God has lead us through. We, like Elijah can turn on a dime and think this life is all about “me.” It is that narcissistic theology that closes our eyes to the grace of God. When we focus on “me” there is a lot in this world that seems impossible. When we focus on God, the world of possibility changes. After his little pity party, Elijah too was asked to turn to see the face of God.