When Jezebel Strikes! by Mark Pfeifer
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Think of when Jezebel attacked Elijah.
The timing was strategic.
It was after his greatest victory.
He called down FIRE and then he called down RAIN! The armies of God were empowered and the enemy was defeated. Yahweh worship was restored and Baal was finally disposed...
...or so he thought!
This is when Jezebel took him by surprise. Just like the serpent in the garden that ambushed an unsuspecting Eve, it appears that Elijah was caught off guard by her threats. He was not expecting Jezebel to be so resilient.
Sometimes after our greatest victories, we suffer our worst defeats. It often comes in the form of an extreme emotional letdown...
...or a health issue...
....or a moral failure...
...or a relational collapse...
...or a family crisis.
Maybe we should have seen it coming. Maybe we should have been better prepared. Maybe we should have made our armor more secure...
...but we didn't.
And now we find ourselves unable to enjoy the fire and the rain because we are fixated on Jezebel's threats.
This is when we must once again become reacquainted with the still small voice of God, just like Elijah did in the cave.
Sometimes the busyness of ministry becomes an addiction. We get high on the action. We revel in the victories.
The travel.
The worship.
The people.
The prayer.
The power
The conferences.
The compliments.
The merch tables.
The book sales.
The green rooms.
The private meetings.
The FIRE and the RAIN...
...and the whole time, Jezebel is slithering in our midst like the serpent in the garden, unnoticed and undetected...
...until she strikes!
That's when a lot of us crash and burn. We experience the lowest of lows after the highest of highs - and wonder how we could be in such a dark place after experiencing the fire of God and the outpouring of His Spirit.
But remember Elijah!
What we learn from him is that no matter how awesome and exciting ministry can be, no matter how glorious the atmosphere, no matter how many victories we have won, we must not neglect the still small voice of God in our quiet times everyday.
Our ministry is not who we are. It is not what saved us. It's not what affirms us. It's not our identity. It's not what sustains us.
Only God can do that!
So, before and after the exciting times of fire and rain, find your quiet place and connect personally and intimately with your Father - and just be a child for a little while.
Because that's who you are.
That's where we find ourselves...
...when we find our Father!
Nicki and I love you and want to run this race together with you for a good long time!
© 2024 Mark Pfeifer
