“Even Elijah was weak and needed My strength to continue his ministry” (Inner Word)
Who could forget the great prophet Elijah, who guided his people back to God through great miracles? Was it not he who stood up to King Ahab when the king did things incompatible with God? Was it not he who incurred the hatred of Queen Jezebel, who worshiped Baal and persecuted him when he had her priests put to death, not without first proving that he was acting on behalf of the Most High!
One might think, “What could possibly frighten such a prophet of God?” Yet we miss the mark if we think Elijah was a hero as one might easily imagine him, and as the media so often likes to portray such figures: invincible giants.
No, Elijah lived by the power of God. His actions were on God’s behalf and far surpassed his human nature. He recognized this himself when he wanted to die and told God that he was no better than his ancestors. Other servants of the Lord experienced periods of darkness and weakness, too. Perhaps they thought they could not go on. What must Saint Joan of Arc have experienced when she was captured and handed over to her enemies?
We may face such trials on our journey of following the Lord, too. Our Father allows these trials so that we may learn more and more that it is He who guides us, gives us the strength to do His work, and helps us persevere. It is not an easy situation, and being able to say with St. Paul, “for when I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Cor 12:10) requires a spiritual journey marked by deep insight. Yet it should comfort and uplift us to know that we are not alone in experiencing moments of weakness. The Father will continue to guide us because it is precisely in those moments that He is especially close to us!