You Could Do Damage

A few weeks ago, I was driving, when an extremely popular song came on Damage by H.E.R and the hook got me (go listen and we can discuss this later). I thought hmmmmm this would be a great sermon topic to explore. Problem is this damage referred to in the song could come from so many people and various ways. Immediately I went to my Bible Study reference and knew I could preach about this based on several scriptures noted for that day’s listing. While there are a variety of matters to the topic the blog will allow me to get a few ideas out of my head.

Often, we take for granted relationships, health, source of income, spiritual knowing, even ourselves. When we fight for another day how does one come up with the reasoning? What damage does this cause and to who mostly? It is easier to blame anyone for anything however we cause more damage than anyone else to ourselves. If you got it there is no question (IYKYK), no room for guessing funny these are the 1st two lines of the pop song. So how does a Christian damage self? Pray with me on this journey as I will take a simple approach and when I preach the entire message later, I will let you know!

Have you ever been disappointed by God? How often do you think “I’ve done all I was supposed to do yet things still aren’t working out?” Where is God? When is He going to show up? Oh, and my FAV question is “Lord, what is really going on?” Again, yes you can cause your own damage! Take some time and read about our friend Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18. His experience of attempting to give up when the work was nowhere near completion could have been fatal. Prior to this text God had revealed Himself multiple times to quite a few lowkey and some heavy hitters we know from Genesis up to 1 Kings. This story brings together mountains, wicked kings, hierarchy, assignments all in the hands of a man who could have done another type of damage. In his moment of distress having caused tremendous damage for the lost ones, Elijah had previously prophesied great truth, destroyed altars, praying, and calling on Our God to end droughts and he still had a moment of feeling defeated as a human during this good yet troubling damage.

This good trouble caused great damage and the infamous Queen Jezebel was furious. Elijah just like us had been confident that our God would not fail and of course God didn’t however the damage was done since wicked was prevailing still and not the grace to understand we shouldn’t be disappointed in God. Everything a bold, decree and declaring Christian should do had been done still things were awry, and the nation of that day did not turn back to God. Sound familiar, we go back for someone, validate others, love on, affirm, study the word, worship, pray, and attempt this holiness and/or #GodlyBalanced life only to see damage we have caused. If only others were truly ready for a greater level of maturity. The victory should belong to us. Godly living ought to be simple, and life must make sense!

In our frustration we run, hide, isolate ourselves causing yet more damage and frustration. Interesting little note about Elijah during this time he was in the wilderness 40 days another familiarity. 40 days of fear, loneliness, hunger, dryness, with damaged thoughts, health, and emotions. Have you ever sat long enough in your broken state to hear from God? What would you do when God goes extra dramatic on you? Once more we allow ourselves to hear, see, and believe what we want rather than what God is trying to show us. There was this massive wind, loud boom, earthquake, fire, then sheer silence and Elijah wasn’t impressed. What could he have wanted at this point? We always want what we want often causing us to miss the purpose God has for us. This journey has shown how we all can do damage physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Where are you on this journey right now? How often do you find yourself in this place? If you read the story in 1 Kings you do realize Elijah had that mountain conversation twice with God on two different mountains. People claim to be woke and are still missing it. Allow yourself to embrace your experiences especially when God is doing amazing things in your life. Stop wrestling with God! Yep, many of us have been faithful a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time yet I know and want to encourage you God is still HERE! While we are emotionally invested and showing our imperfections remember take NOTHING for granted…. You can remember and honor your past but trust you don’t want to go back. God lives in the Promise and works in new ways (the prayers of our ancestors are still being worked). Show yourself grace and trust in His faithfulness. After a

ll let God hold you tight, love you right, give you life! Be willing to listen to the whisper of God or you could do damage.