CAVE DWELLER

The cave. Cool. Dark. Sheltered. Protected.

Are you a cave dweller?  I've been known to be.

I go there when I need to unplug. I go there to decompress. I go there when I don't know where else to go. When I am fearful or discouraged. I go there to meditate. I go there in times of trouble--to self medicate, to lick my wounds, take time to heal.

Even Elijah fled from those who thought wrongly of him and sought to kill him.  Even Elijah, an ordinary man yet extraordinarily used by God, was discouraged, cried out to God and hid when he felt persecuted, uncertain and afraid.

"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,  while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep." 

1 Kings 19:3-5

Even Elijah, a true man of God, took shelter in a cave.

^"The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  There he went into a cave and spent the night." 1 Kings 19:6-8

The beauty of it is that God is in the cave. God hears our cry. He knows our heart. God understands our need to be a cave dweller sometimes.  To go somewhere cool, quiet, and safe. He knows we will run, hide and seek solace. He knows we need that time to pray, ponder and regroup. And, He is there waiting to provide.

 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  1 Kings 19:9-13

It is there in the cave that we find Him. It is there in the cave we draw close. Then He comes to refresh, restore and renew. He breathes His life back into us as we seek His face, listen for His still small voice. He reassures us of His presence, His purpose and ours in Him. Just as Elijah.

The cave serves a purpose but only for awhile. Eventually we must emerge. With Him, His mercies are new every morning; He makes ALL things new. He is a God of second chances.

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,  but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! " Luke 24:2-7

He goes before us. We emerge from the cave with a renewed sense of His grace, His strength and His mercy. We emerge with a new sense of life, vision and purpose. The world and our walk with Him look a little different.  We look a little different. Our spirit is nourished and healed. Our confidence is restored. There is understanding, surrender and peace.

The cave is there when we need it. When we need to be transformed. We will visit it as often as He guides us there. For a time. And, He is always there waiting........

The Unfailing and Failing

It is still dark. I can see no light.

In the still, I hear soft breathing. I feel squeezed. Dread. I ask Him to help me go back to sleep.

I turn. Sleep does not come. I wallow. I wait. In His unfailing and my failing.

Soon I hear the drone of those who watch the clock, have appointments, do the grind. I ask again for sleep. It does not show signs of returning now.

The noise multiplies. The bed moves. Footsteps. The first rays of light. Yet I do not feel the lightness. I want to sleep. I deny. In His unfailing and my failing.

Minutes pass. I lay still. Wanting to avoid. To ignore. The mind begins to look ahead, to review, to realize that sleep will not come again on this morn.

My feet feel like lead swinging off the edge. My being wants to crawl back under, into the cave. My mind knows it cannot no matter how the darkness looms. I MUST embrace the light. In His unfailing and my failing.

I exercise in body and soul hoping to lift the darkness.  I drink liquid power hoping to feel His intoxicating revival in spirit. A glimmer appears.

I sing, in spirit, the worship of one worn with pain, physical and soul searching. Knowing the answer deep down. Not wanting to fully accept. In His unfailing. In my failing.

The struggle lurks on the edge of the light, fingers stretched out. The blackness grabs and threatens. I sing aloud and look deep into the words attempting to find meaning, solace, and justice there. Understanding somewhat. Harder to accept.

Moving forward. The day dawns. Darkness presses heavy on my chest. I look for the bright. I shun the pit. He gives me determination. He gives me hope in His unfailing. In my failing.

"Amazing grace. How sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me. Once I was lost but I am found, was blind but know I see...."

I see. I know what I must. But to do.... A battle of the fiercest kind. Yet He is there in the pit. Pulling me out yet again. In His unfailing and my failing.

Time ticks. It transcends. Forgiveness glows. Love renews.

Waiting. In His unfailing and my failing.

Praising. Worshiping. Loving. In His unfailing and my failing.

Amazing grace. Amazing love. Amazing God.

It looks familiar, this place. I have been here before. Many times. In variety of degree. I know this place will come again. And, I, in His mercy and power, will conquer.......

May He alone be magnified in my victory. His unfailing becomes my unfailing. Hallelujah!

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.   Ephesians 2:8-9