There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (1 Kings 19:9-10, NLT).
Take just a moment and think about a trash can. Obviously, trash goes in a trash can. When the trash gets full, someone usually empties it.
I’d like to challenge your perspective of a trash can. When we’re full of remains from previous experiences, we’re a lot like full trash cans. Residue like anger, anxiety, burdens, confusion, disappointment, depression, fear, frustration, pain, and stress can remain from events that have long expired. When we’re full of the past, God cannot release His promises. It’s time to let some things go!
Elijah stands out as a person who needed to let some things go. In 1 Kings 19, he exhibits some signs and symptoms that indicate he was holding onto things he needed to release:
- Avoiding Companionship: Elijah traveled a days journey to be away from his servant and an additional 40 days to get further away. Something Jezebel said drove him into seclusion.
- Alarming Conversations: Elijah, an incredible and powerful prophet, asked God to die.
How do you move beyond these signs and symptoms? You have to use the avenue for confession. The cave Elijah found was the place where God allowed him to release the past. While we don’t have caves, we do have a throne of grace, where we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Just a little talk with Jesus will make everything alright!
God has an overwhelming blessing reserved for you. Full containers cannot be filled. Release the past and get ready for a bright future. It’s time to let it go!