In 2 Kings chapter 2, the prophet Elijah was about
to leave this world, and he knew it.
However, being a strong, go-it-alone type-A kind of guy (1 Kings 18:22), Elijah didn’t want to worry anyone---- especially his closest friend
Elisha.
The strong man did not have to face the fiery chariot alone, and Elisha gained a doubled connection to the spirit of his friend and mentor.
If you can understand that and just be there, your presence will give them the strength to face what’s coming, and the experience will leave you with a greater portion in the spiritual connection between you.
And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to
take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha
from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord
has sent me on to Bethel.” (2 Kings 2: 1, 2)
Elisha though sensed that something was wrong, and
he replied, “As the Lord lives, and as
your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel [together]. (2 Kings 2: 2)
Elijah went from Bethel to Jericho and from Jericho
all the way across the Jordan. At each
point in the journey to his end, Elijah told his friend, “Don’t worry about
me. Stay here. I’ll go on alone.”
Each time Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!”
When the end came, Elisha was there with
Elijah.
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked,
that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared
with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a
whirlwind into heaven. …Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah
rests on Elisha.” (2 Kings 2: 11, 15)
The strong man did not have to face the fiery chariot alone, and Elisha gained a doubled connection to the spirit of his friend and mentor.
Strong, go-it-alone, I-got-this, type-A kind of
people don’t share their pain. It’s out
of character for them to admit that they are hurting. So when they do, it means that they hurt BAD.
By the time you get to them to comfort them they may
say, “Oh, I’m fine now. Don’t worry
about me. I’ll go on alone.”
They’re not fine.
They’re just back in character.
If they were in enough pain to actually admit to
hurting in the first place, that pain was at a level that doesn’t just go
away.
But they will jump back into their routine. They’ll work from here to Bethel, to Jericho,
and all the way across the Jordan. And,
while they’re working they’ll say, “I’m fine.”
They’re not.
They’re still hurting. They’re just back in character.
Your job in those times is to be their Elisha.
You can’t fix it for type-A, go-it-alone kind of people. The problem, the pain, the flaming chariot
that’s coming is theirs alone to ride. And they
don’t expect you to fix it, but they
need you to be there. They really need
you to just be there while they hurt for a while.
If you can understand that and just be there, your presence will give them the strength to face what’s coming, and the experience will leave you with a greater portion in the spiritual connection between you.
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer
and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the
Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for
the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more
about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .
If this message helps or touches you, please help
support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
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