When You Feel Overlooked and Forgotten By God

March 21, 2022

5 Minutes

Elijah was beginning to move in power, prominence, and authority. 

Having declared that there would be no rain in the land of Israel as God’s judgment for her severe evil (1 Kings 16:30 – 17:1), his street cred was soaring (IT WORKED!).  

Book deals, national conferences, and a Netflix series were now no doubt filling his thoughts. 

Out of nowhere, the Lord commands him to stop the presses and retreat to a little creek called Cherith (Ke’-rith) to “hide himself.”

“Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” — 1 Kings 17:3, NASB95

Put the passion back in your weekend.

And here the now-famous prophet would stay. 

Fortunately, the Lord would send him a little meat and bread via raven-delivery.  

That was probably ‘neat’ for the first few days (also a little gross – think of where ravens would be finding meat!)  

But beyond that, mostly all there would be to do was watch the water recede (Elijah’s only natural source of survival! See 1 Kings 17:7)

THIS is what you get for obedience?

No matter WHO we are, God’s servant-leaders will experience lonely seasons at Cherith.

Cherith is the unexplainable waiting place. 

It’s the place where we feel forgotten, cut off from the blessing that used to be ours.

Cherith ravine is the place where 

  • things feel dry
  • our resources are lacking
  • our passion is waning
  • our friends move away (or ignore us)
  • we feel alone (even in a room FULL of people)
  • we are passed over for leadership roles
  • we are held back by a physical limitation

Cherith is CONFUSING.

And while it isn’t the place we would have chosen, ALL great leaders will have to pass through it.

Saved people serve people.

1. Cherith Tends To Feel Unfair

Elijah only did what the Lord had told him when he prayed for there to be no rain in Israel.  

Now he had to hide from the wrath of wicked King Ahab (for fear of assassination).  Don’t even mention that he is slowly running out of water BECAUSE he prayed according to God’s will.

We would think that our obedience would cause God to hook us up right away. 

Leadership reality: Obedience often brings about MORE difficulty, at least at first. 

Even so, we must remember that for Elijah, Cherith was actually a sign of God’s APPROVAL – not His ANGER.

2. Cherith Is Preparation

Elijah had been faithful with his first charge, but he would need more training in solitude for what laid ahead (See 1 Kings 18).

To truly be used of God in our generation, great leaders must be much alone with God, even when they wouldn’t have chosen the context on their own.

Too much spotlight will end up blinding us. Too much applause will twist our hearts.  For our protection and preparation, the Master removes us to a place where the voices of people grow quiet, so He can teach us to listen deeply.

God’s best work happens in secret.

When God forms a baby in a mother’s womb, only He truly gets to see it. 

The men and women God will use must learn again and again that the vital victories of Carmel often come via the lowly preparation of Cherith.

Crosses still precede crowns.

Lord, 

Help me believe that my life is not as random as it sometimes appears. I choose to trust this day that you are doing a great work in and around me.  Help me persevere, growing firm in faith. Believing that what You have promised, You are able to fulfill.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Click to Share

Click to Share

Click to Share

What Should We Do When Change is Unexpected?

Surrendering to change often IS surrendering to God.

Do You Wish Someone Would Invest in You?

Your humblest self is the one that will be promoted.

Nine Things Leaders Are Not Responsible For

Leadership Lesson: Refusing to absorb people’s responsibilities doesn’t mean you’re unloving.

How Does One Reconnect With Jesus?

Reconnecting with Jesus is the simplest thing in the world. Maybe you’ve been away from God and find yourself with a desire to be closer with Him, but your feelings of shame are overwhelming.

How to Access the Fire Your Soul Craves

Low-Cost Christianity cannot and will not produce a life of fire.

Did God Forget His Promise to You?

David was just a boy when the prophet anointed him to be the future king of Israel. The spectacle of having the great Samuel pour oil over his head in front of his family must have created some mind-blowing expectations in the boy (1 Samuel 16:13).

Four Reasons You’re Not on Fire and How to Fix It

In our earnestness to LOVE our kids, we sometimes don't consider what we may be leaving undone or doing too much of that has the potential to hurt our influence in their lives.

How to Get Out of a Lust Trap

Like it or not, you have a spiritual enemy who would love to DESTROY your leadership. And if you have ever struggled with LUST, this will be one of his main strategies to do it.

You Can't Move in Two Directions at Once

Meditation on truth is a powerful tool God has given us to get heavenly thinking into our hearts more naturally.

Rejected? Welcome to the Dead Prophets Society

The truth is, the more FOCUSED you stay on what people think the more DISCOURAGED you will become. It’s essential to God that you learn to love HIS WILL more than you love the APPROVAL of onlookers or naysayers.

Giving just got easier.

Simply text The Torch Give to (847) 973-6671 to get started!

Related Posts

Be More Interested Than ‘Awesome’

Be More Interested Than ‘Awesome’

Be more interested in people’s problems (and potential ways you can help solve them) than in communicating how ‘awesome’ you are (or your organization is).

Those You Influence Need More Than Your Advice

Those You Influence Need More Than Your Advice

People are looking to you for leadership, even though you may not know it. Or you MAY know it . . . But you don’t know HOW to help those who follow you. Always be relationally passing on what you have learned.

Subscribe to The Torch Growth

Plan A Visit

In-Person + Online