Elijah:: I Quit

I was raised in a family of board game aficionados.

During many years of family game nights, that would sometimes end in tears and tantrums, I developed two distinct personalities. 

When I'm winning at a game I'm having a ball! I'll be chatting it up, making jokes and trying to be gracious to those who aren't doing as well. There will be laughing and carrying on like I'm Captain Good Times. 

The losing version of myself is completely different. I'm sullen and withdrawn. The game won't hold my attention for very long and I'll be easily distracted. While I understand the value of being a good loser, I've spent too many years contemplating the futility of existence while being run off the Monopoly board to practice it. 

Basically, I'm saying you should never play games with me because I'm insufferable either way. 

The desire to quit when things go sideways is exactly what we'll be looking at this Sunday. Our look at the life of Elijah comes just after the amazing high when God shows up in a powerful way and justifies him in front of the nation of Israel. Elijah is at a devastating low and wants to pack it up and check out of life. 

Maybe you're feeling like you want to quit. Being a good employee. Being a parent. Being a spouse. Being responsible. 

You're not alone. When you're in a place of despair and want to quit and walk away you stand in line with a long heritage of those who went before you. I hope you'll explore what next steps could be and how God simultaneously sits with us in despair and invites us ever forward through this message.