KEEP SHOWING UP
The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, "I didn't see anything. "Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, "I saw a little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising from the sea. "Then Elijah shouted, "Hurry to Ahab and tell him, 'Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don't hurry, the rain will stop you!'"
1 Kings 18:43-44 (NLT)
The phrase, I didn't see anything, above has been ringing in my mind. How do you keep moving forward when nothing seems to change? How do you keep fighting when light won't seem to break through the shadows? How do you keep hoping when the victory you thought would happen long ago still hasn't happened? How do you keep choosing the right thing when you don't see anything happening?
Elijah's servant went six times expecting to see some sort of breakthrough. Six times, the answer was the same: I didn't see anything. Six times, it felt like God was absent. Six times, it looked like nothing would change. We talk a lot about breakthrough, but what about the waiting? What about the six times where it was said, I didn't see anything? Here's the key to making sure we don't miss breakthrough. It's hard, but it's simple. It's to keep showing up.
Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is show up. Sometimes, that's all you can do. Some days, you will have the strength to dream great dreams. Some days, you will have the strength to fight back a thousand obstacles. Some days, you will not have the ability to successfully wage war against all your dark thoughts. Some days, joy will be so full in you that it will swallow up all the bad thoughts like the sunrise bursting forth through the darkness each morning. But some days, you will feel like all strength is gone. Some days, you will wonder if you can keep moving forward. Don't try to move forward; just show up. Here's what I'm learning: sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is show up. Keep showing up each day where God has placed you. Seven in the Bible is the number of completion and wholeness. You can't bring that; only God can. Your job, your one job, is to just keep showing up. To keep hoping. To keep knowing that God's silence is not His absence. To trust things are moving when you don't see anything. Here's to showing up. Sometimes, it's the most spiritual thing you can do.
APPLICATION: Just show up wherever God has placed you.
PRAYER: Ask God to give you a strength to just show up. Ask Him to reveal an area you are trying to fix. Ask Him how you can trust Him more.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?