June 29, 2025 Text: 1 Kings 19:9b-21
Dear Friends in Christ,
King Henry V of England stands outside the French town of Harfleur. They have crossed the channel, and Henry is going after what he feels is his rightful claim – France. They are on the way to Paris, but Harfleur stands in the way. The English soldiers are tired, weary, and disillusioned, but good King Hal knows it is now or never. He must rally and encourage his men.
As Shakespeare tells it, Henry gives a speech to stir their English blood, and in that rallying cry, he utters the famous words, “Once more unto the breach!” He is saying, “get back at it and take the castle. There is still work to do.” People still use those words to rally the frustrated in the important and mundane. Sports, combat, school, job. Don’t give up, “once more unto the breach!”
Poor Elijah was feeling the frustration as he fled from Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab who wanted him dead. But God had to encourage Elijah because there were still tasks to complete. We know the feeling that Elijah had. Life can be a drain. We can get pretty low sometimes. But the Lord has the encouragement that we need. Listen to it today when you get . . .
“FRUSTRATED”
In this profession we get to hear a lot of frustrations. With family. With healthcare. With politics. With weather. With traffic. With others. With society. With prices. We could name 10 more but let’s stop there before you get frustrated with the preacher!
People didn’t care much for the prophet/preacher Elijah. He brought a message that went against their worship of Baal and the other gods. During the reign of King Ahab, the Lord had to hide Elijah. He had to provide him with sustenance to survive. He was on the run. The frustration is boiling over because he cannot see that there is anything more that he can do.
Elijah is afraid. He fled to the south and in the wilderness, he actually asks to die. Elijah is done. The frustration has boiled over. As we pick it up in our text, Elijah is hiding in a cave and Elijah is not afraid to tell God what he really thinks. The people have thrown down your altars, they have killed your prophets and now they are after me.
Have you ever been there? You have. Many of you. I call it bringing you in off the ledge. You get so frustrated with things going on around you that you want to jump into some abyss that will take your frustration away, just like the English army under Henry V.
But God still had work for Elijah to do. God had not abandoned Elijah. The situation was not good. But God was still in control. He was feeding and providing shelter for his prophet. Notice that God allows Elijah to voice his frustration. He allows you the same thing. He hears you. He knows. He puts you back on track.
How did it happen for Elijah? In the wind? No. In the earthquake? No. In the fire? No. It came in a voice. A low whisper. A calming tone.
Back when Karson played Pony baseball and I was his coach, we rallied in the top of last inning and took the lead when Karson hit a bases clearing double. He then went out to pitch with a slim lead. The bases got loaded and we still needed two outs. He was getting frustrated. I went to the mound and just talked with him. There was no big speech. Just a calming voice. God gave you this talent, smile and get these next two batters out. He did and all the boys got a dilly bar to celebrate the comeback.
God doesn’t bring the dilly bar’s but He provides the calming voice. God still has work for you to do and He knows frustration is not going to help or get the job done. He assures you of Christ’s victory. God has not abandoned you. I cannot say this enough in a sermon . . . God is in control. He is victorious for us in Christ Jesus. God is patient. Elijah after God’s words still voiced the same frustration. His words don’t reflect his change, but his actions do. He continued his work for the Lord’s kingdom.
Like Elijah God feeds and nourishes you in Word and Sacrament. He invites us to lay out what is on our minds. He listens. The Lord promises with His words that you are not alone. His Church will go on. He sends you and I out, with frustrations in check, to declare Christ’s victory over sin and death, because there is still work to do.
Once more unto the breach! Each and every day.
Amen.
"But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
