“… If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people answered him not a word.” I Kings 18:21b

 

It’s time to hold on and pray!

​

We all have people in our lives we pray for, and it’s not always easy to pray the hard prayer for them that we need to...

​

Sometimes we become frustrated and discouraged because the people we care so much about seem to be so lost, so far from ever seeing the truth. But take heart, they may be closer to seeing it than we think!

​

In I Kings 18:21, it may seem odd that Elijah seemed to be okay with the people choosing to follow their belief even if it was in Baal. I think it’s because he had an insight into what Jesus later taught through the parable of the Prodigal Son; someone choosing wrong with certainty is more likely to realize their error than someone who seemingly chooses right.

​

Elijah was justifiably worried about the people because they weren’t committed to any one thing. He knew it would be better for them to have conviction about their beliefs, even if they were wrong. But instead, he saw people who were looking for the easy way, willing to align themselves with “the winner,” not because they believed wholeheartedly in the winner, but because it was the popular thing to do.

​

It can be very difficult for people to see a need for change through a personal relationship with Jesus when they are good morale people who live good clean lives and already have some type of belief in God. BUT, when someone has run hard and long into a life that is the opposite, it’s a lot easier for them to recognize their need when that life falls apart—when they have a “pig pen” experience.

​

I picture it like this, when life is going along good under a person’s own power, in their head they’re just singing “la, la, la, la, la…” and can’t hear anything else. However, when life leads to a point where it’s falling apart, in this person’s head, they’re crying out “Help Me!” and they are open to hear the voice that says “I Am here.”

​

So if we have loved ones who seem too lost to be found, we shouldn’t give up! We should pray all the harder that they end up in the “pig pen” sooner rather than later. It’s a hard prayer to pray, but it’s where they have the best chance to finally hear God calling to them!

​

Reminder: It’s about loved ones being saved, not about their comfort!