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In It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey is a man thrust into the position of running his family’s building and loan business. He puts his own life on hold because he thinks he can use this local business to help others. Yet there are businessmen around him who have other designs on the Building and Loan, and they strive through every plot and scheme to tear the business from Bailey.
The movie revolves around the moment it seems they have succeeded. George can’t pay back some money he owes, and isn’t sure how this will affect his family. He has a life insurance policy, and he becomes suicidal with the prospect of trying to utilize it.
At this point I will pause to say if you, or a loved one, is having similar thoughts, please turn to help from the Suicide Hotline, either online or at 1-800-273-8255.
My hope is that if you are having these sorts of thoughts, like George Bailey, you can see through it to another path even if, like him, you need help from a little Divine intervention. Because of all the good George has done, the community comes together to help him in his time of need. Through all this, Bailey learns the importance his life has had, and continues to have, on others, both a part of and outside of his family.
George, in his time of despair, felt the full weight of his adversaries against him. His despair was a result of not feeling that anyone was with him, even though there were so many around him who loved him and were willing to help when he needed it. It takes a little Divine help to remind him of that.
Elijah finds himself in a similar situation in our reading from 1 Kings today. This reading occurs right after Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal and wins, proving only God, not Baal, exists. It was a huge victory in Elijah’s ministry.
But as we read today, this victory is short lived. Queen Jezebel is livid, and threatens Elijah’s life. He then flees to the wilderness. Elijah is feeling alone, with no one to follow him and no one to listen to him.
God, however, is there. God listens to Elijah. God comforts and guides him. God is there in the way we hear in the refrain for our Psalms this morning: “Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me? Put your trust in God; for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.”
Even when Elijah thinks he is alone, God is there. In the period between our reading this week and our reading for next week, God will give Elijah a new assignment: to raise up a new prophet, Elisha. As we will hear next week, Elisha will have a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. As Elisha trains under Elijah, they will find a multitude of prophets following along with them.
Even when we think we are alone and in despair, God is there. God is there, no matter who we are. There are no distinctions for God, as Paul tells the Galatians.
God cares about each of us individually. When Jesus finds the man possessed with the Legion of demons, He does not abandon him. Jesus sets this man free, even at the cost of the livestock of those around this man. Jesus cares enough about just one person to put the local economy at risk.
There are times for all of us when we feel alone and in despair. For all of us who strive to serve God, lay or ordained, there is a time when it feels hopeless and as if no one is listening. Yet, as we learn from all our readings, more are there with us then we think. Certainly God is there with us always.
If it seems like we are done and unable to do the work God has given us before, God will give us a new task for us now. That is what the Lord did for Elijah, and the whole of Israel was better for it.
When you feel despair, whether as individuals or even as a parish, know that you are not alone, and even if it seems like you are, God is there. Instead of wallowing in misery, take the time to listen. It may be one task is over, and God is getting ready to give you a new one. We can only all benefit for your listening to what God has to say.