00:00Hey friends, have you ever felt super scared or all alone?
00:04Like you just won a big game but then suddenly felt like hiding under your bed?
00:08Well, believe it or not, a super brave hero from the Bible named Elijah felt that exact same way.
00:16So, Elijah was a prophet, which is like being God's special messenger.
00:21He had just been part of this incredible jaw-dropping miracle on a mountain called Mount Carmel.
00:26He showed everyone that God is real and powerful and it was a huge victory.
00:32You'd think he'd be throwing a massive party, right?
00:34But nope.
00:35Instead, the very mean Queen Jezebel heard about what Elijah did and got super angry.
00:41She sent a message to Elijah saying,
00:43I'm going to get you.
00:45And what did our brave hero do?
00:47He got scared.
00:48Really scared.
00:49So scared that he ran away.
00:51He ran for a whole day into the big empty wilderness and sat down under a juniper tree.
00:56He felt so tired, so lonely, and so sad.
01:00He even prayed a really honest prayer to God saying,
01:03I've had enough, Lord.
01:05I just want to give up.
01:06It's pretty surprising to hear a hero talk like that, isn't it?
01:10But it shows us something super important.
01:13Even the strongest and bravest people have moments of fear and feel totally overwhelmed.
01:18It's okay to feel that way sometimes.
01:20Elijah's fear shows us that it's normal to have big feelings, even when we have big faith.
01:26As Elijah was sleeping under that tree, feeling completely down, something wonderful happened.
01:33An angel came and gently touched him.
01:35The angel said,
01:37Get up and eat.
01:38Elijah opened his eyes.
01:39And what did he see?
01:41Right by his head was a piece of bread baked on hot coals and a jar of water.
01:45Wow!
01:46Wow!
01:46God sent a special delivery right to him in the middle of nowhere.
01:50This wasn't just any snack.
01:52It was God showing Elijah.
01:54Hey!
01:55I see you!
01:56I know you're hurting.
01:57And I'm here to take care of you.
01:59God didn't scold Elijah for being scared or for running away.
02:03Instead, he showed him kindness and gave him exactly what he needed.
02:08Food for his body and a reminder that he wasn't alone.
02:11God's compassion is like a warm, cozy hug when we feel lost and sad.
02:16So Elijah ate and drank, and then he lay down again.
02:19But the angel came back a second time, touched him, and said,
02:24Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.
02:27God knew Elijah still had a long way to go, not just in distance, but in his heart.
02:33He needed more strength.
02:34This special food from God gave Elijah so much power that he traveled for 40 days and 40 nights
02:41all the way to a very special place, Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.
02:46When Elijah got to the mountain, he found a cave and decided to stay there for the night.
02:51While he was there, God spoke to him.
02:54God asked a simple question,
02:56What are you doing here, Elijah?
02:58It was a gentle way of asking,
03:00Elijah, why did you run?
03:02Talk to me, and Elijah just let it all out.
03:05He told God how he felt.
03:07He said,
03:08I've worked so hard for you, God.
03:10But the people of Israel have rejected you,
03:13they've torn down your altars, and they've gotten rid of your prophets.
03:17I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to get me too.
03:20Can you hear how lonely he felt?
03:22He truly believed he was the only person left who still loved and followed God.
03:27That feeling of being all by yourself can be one of the hardest things to go through.
03:31But God was about to show Elijah something incredible.
03:35God told Elijah,
03:36Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord,
03:40for the Lord is about to pass by.
03:42So Elijah went to the mouth of the cave, and then things got wild.
03:46First, a powerful wind blew so hard that it was shattering rocks.
03:51It was like a hurricane on the mountain.
03:53But the Bible says the Lord was not in the wind.
03:56After the wind, there was a huge earthquake that shook the whole mountain.
04:00Imagine the ground rumbling and shaking under your feet.
04:03It must have been terrifying.
04:05But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
04:07After the earthquake, a fire raged across the mountain.
04:11Can you picture the bright hot flames?
04:13It was another big loud scary event.
04:16But the Lord was not in the fire.
04:18Then, after all the noise and chaos.
04:21After the wind, the earthquake, and the fire.
04:24There was a gentle whisper, a still small voice.
04:27And when Elijah heard it, he knew.
04:30He knew it was God.
04:31He pulled his cloak over his face and stood at the entrance of the cave, ready to listen.
04:36This teaches us something so cool.
04:38Sometimes we look for God in the big, loud, spectacular things,
04:43like a lightning storm or a huge miracle.
04:46And God can be there.
04:47But often, God speaks to us in the quiet moments.
04:51When we calm down, take a deep breath, and just listen,
04:55we can hear his gentle whisper in our hearts, guiding us and comforting us.
05:00God once again asked,
05:02What are you doing here, Elijah?
05:04And Elijah gave the same sad answer about being the only one left.
05:09He was still stuck in his despair.
05:10But this time, God didn't just give him food.
05:14He gave him a new mission and a powerful truth.
05:16First, God gave him a job to do.
05:19He said, Go back the way you came and anoint new leaders.
05:23Anointing someone was like officially making them a king or a prophet.
05:27God was telling Elijah, Your work isn't done.
05:30I have important plans for you.
05:32This new purpose was like a burst of energy for Elijah's spirit.
05:36It reminded him that his life still had meaning.
05:39Then, God addressed Elijah's biggest fear, the fear of being alone.
05:44God told him, You are not the only one left.
05:47I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.
05:527,000 people.
05:54Can you believe it?
05:55Elijah thought he was all alone, a single person against the world.
05:59But God revealed that there was a whole secret army of faithful people he didn't even know about.
06:05He wasn't alone at all.
06:06This news must have been such a huge relief.
06:09It was God's way of saying, You are part of a much bigger story.
06:13And you have a whole team you haven't even met.
06:16Elijah's journey from the big win on Mount Carmel, to the scared men under the broom tree, to the listening
06:23prophet in the cave, is an amazing adventure.
06:26It shows us that it's okay to be human.
06:28It's okay to have highs and lows, to feel brave one day and scared the next.
06:33What matters is what we do when we feel that way.
06:36Elijah teaches us to be honest with God.
06:38When he was sad, he told God he was sad.
06:42He didn't pretend everything was fine.
06:44And God listened and responded with love.
06:46He also teaches us that even when we feel like giving up, God has a plan to renew our strength
06:52and give us a new purpose.
06:54He provides for us, whether it's with food and water or with a gentle whisper of encouragement.
06:59And finally, Elijah's story is a powerful reminder that we are never truly alone.
07:05Even when it feels like it, God is with us, and he has a community of people who can support
07:11us.
07:11Sometimes we just can't see them yet.
07:13So, next time you feel scared, lonely, or like you want to give up, remember Elijah.
07:20Talk to God about it.
07:22Look for his provision.
07:23Listen for his quiet voice.
07:25And trust that he has a plan for you.
07:27Your journey might have some scary parts, but God will be with you every step of the way, giving you
07:33the strength you need to keep going.
07:35Thanks for listening to this incredible story with me today.
07:38Don't forget to like and subscribe for more amazing adventures from the Bible.
07:42See you next time and God bless.
