EARTHQUAKE OR SOULQUAKE?

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*EARTHQUAKE OR SOULQUAKE?*

Scripture Treasure.*

1 Kgs 19:4 *But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

When your soul is weary or quaking, pray rather than complain to God.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The story of Elijah tells us that men of power get exhausted, frustrated, and may call it quit.

God proves to Elijah that He does not call us to call it quit, 1 Cor 16:13, but He has called to call quit our stresses, disappointments, challenges, loneliness, hopelessness and a desire to be relieved of burden, etc ref 1 Kgs 19:5.

He heals the wounded unless the wounded decides to quit rather than be healed for the journey ahead.

The Christian journey is a race ref Heb 12:1, 1 Cor 9:24, Phil 3:14, 2 Tim 4:7-8, and the race is a journey ref 1 Kgs 19:7.

When we run the race in fear and despair, it makes the journey very hazardous, tiring, and frustrating, ref 1 Kgs 19:4.

Elijah's story tells us that where an aching, weary, and quaking soul is not dealt with or we do not deal with our weary soul, encouragement, provision of food will do little or nothing.

His story teaches us never to allow what we go through to frustrate the plan of God in our lives.

The angel of God told Elijah that there was still a journey ahead of him, reminding him of his purpose and calling. 

It would look that by his sense of despair, God saw that he would no longer be strong enough to continue. He was, however, only strengthened to round up and anoint Elisha in order to mark the beginning of a new chapter in God's work in Israel. 

God knows when we are tired or not worth continuing. He willing gave up some, 1 Sam 2:30, Hos 13:11. He rather than willing to give up some, He endorsed their ministry as esteemed. This was what He did for Elijah, 2 Kgs 2:11.

We must be careful when our souls are weary or under threat and/or pressure.

We must be careful not to be self-indulgent with our ego and self pursuits.

At the time when our souls are weak, let us be careful of our utterances and actions to God.

Utterances that seem to indicate God's slackness, when in fact He is working to come through for us, may breach the confidence He has in us and this may lead to a sudden end to one's calling.

There are times we feel the sky is falling down or the world is crashing down on us.

There are times we need a soft pillow for our tired soul.

When problems are many, we must know that the world would not collapse nor the sky crash down on us. There is no earthquake, but it is our soul that is quaking and tired.

A tired or weary soul has no delight. There is no pleasure.

No matter how tight or tough things may be, it is only a figure of speech or an imagination or a way to whip up sympathy to say the world is crashing down on us.

Those who are not going through what we are going through are under the same sky, the same sun and moon.

Exhaustion, weariness, frustration, depression are signs of soulquake.

Psalm 4:8 teaches us that unless we lie down in peace or sleep in peace, sleep has no meaning to a tired soul. One will just be rolling and tossing on the bed

Psalm 4:8   *In peace I will lie down and sleep,  for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.*

Psalm 127:2 teaches us that unless God gives us sleep, sleep will have no meaning.

*".......he giveth his beloved sleep.*

When trouble comes, the earth or the world around you is not falling or quaking. It is your soul that is troubled, weary, or quaking.

When it is your soul that is quaking, it is your spiritual condition that needs to be addressed.

The earth will not quake around you if you ask God to heal your soulquake.

Only a great God can solve a great problem.

His voice is like an earthquake, 1 Kgs 19:11-12. This is enough to destroy and put a stop to any problem that stands as an earthquake over your soul.

Christ can provide solutions. He helps our infirmities, Rom 8:26. He fixes everything.

*Remorse corner.*

Does it feel your world is crashing down? It is only your soul that is weary, aching, and quaking, not your world crashing. Ask God to rekindle your hope in Him, Ps 42:5. Ask God to refresh your soul, ref Matt 11:28-29.

*Call to Word action.*

Jeremiah 31:25   *For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

We get tired, frustrated, and discouraged. God knows, and He wants us to know we were called in the furnace of affliction, Is 48: 10, Rom 8:38-39. Pray for help rather than make God a prey or devoured with complaints and disrespect.

*Prayer.*

Lord soften and heal my soul from weariness in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.