No Platitudes in the Desert

[Elijah said:] “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life…” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” – 1 Kings 19:4b-5 (NRSV)

In the mini-series Seven Seconds, Regina King plays a faithful, tithing church mom. She sings in the choir. If someone says to her “God bless you,” she says: “He already does. Every day.” She’s got it right.  

When King’s character learns that her teenage son has died, someone tries to comfort her by saying, “God’s got us.” And her response—so different from always before—is: “And you think that’s supposed to be of comfort?”  

No one can ever be prepared. She was in church every Sunday and Wednesday, and she was not prepared. Who is? 

Just in the past few weeks, I have had more conversations than I can count with people who are grieving like this mother, who listen to me preach or pray or talk to them, and have a similar indictment: You think that’s supposed to be of comfort?  

So many of us think and are taught that our faith should always rest in platitudes. That a believer believes every second of the day and, no matter what’s going on, if we hear the right words and say them just right—all the time—then we can bring ourselves right back to that state of comfort. On demand.  

But when we can’t? We might feel ashamed. If that’s ever you, think about Elijah. This man of God gave up. Didn’t have it in him. Strength? Gone. 

In your spiritual desert, there is no room for platitudes. All there is, is divine provision. And the provision will be there, whether you notice where it comes from or not. Whether you give thanks or not. Because, beloved, God’s provision doesn’t depend on you! God’s provision isn’t about you. It’s about God.  

Prayer
When it’s all too much, may the angels attend my needs with such strength that I know the blessings.

About the Author
Kaji Douša is the Senior Pastor of The Park Avenue Christian Church, a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, in New York City.