Elijah, God's moody saint, was hiding in a gloomy cave, discouraged because his work was not sufficient to lead God's people to lasting repentance or national revival! Elijah was deep in the deep cave of disillusionment and self-pity (I Kings 19).

One of the great modern-day examples of a lover of God, who chose not to live in the cave of self-pity, was Dave Dravecky. Dave broke in with the San Diego Padres in 1982 and then was then traded to the San Francisco Giants. As a gritty lefty pitcher, he was diagnosed in October 1988 with cancer in his pitching arm. Even though many believed that Dave would never pitch again after 10 months of strenuous rehabilitation, he pitched eight innings for a 4-3 victory on August 10, 1989. However, in his next start, he was throwing a pitch in the sixth inning at Montreal when the bone in his upper left arm snapped. Then, if that was not bad enough, approximately a year later the cancer returned, and finally Dave had his left arm amputated. Davecky's first book was titled, Comeback, but his second book was titled, When You Can't Comeback. Dave Dravecky says of his high school sweetheart and wife of 13 years , Janice, "[she] has truly been the wind beneath my wings."

The title line of a February 1992 USA Today cover story read, "Dravecky's new era; Loss of arm breaks heart but not spirit." In that article Dave Dravecky said

"It's been a very difficult time. It hasn't only been a physical struggle, but mentally I've struggled with depression. Just recently I've come to grips with it. It took awhile for it to hit, but when it did, it hit like a ton of bricks. . . . Most athletes, because of the way we're programmed to perform, have a difficult time showing our weaknesses and our fears. . . But I've learned it's okay to show weaknesses and to be afraid.. . I've come to understand that God is really shaping and molding my character. I've come to realize that real growth of character takes place in the valleys of life. . . . Ultimately, I have hope that no matter what happens to me, some day I'm going to be in heaven and that's where I will have peace."¹

When Elijah was in his cave of self-pity, the Lord communicates a message that we are need to be reminded of often in our own lives. A wind, an earthquake, and a fire passed by Elijah, which impacted the cave site. The great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces. Surely the earthquake and fire did even greater damage. However, in each case the words, "the Lord was not in" are recorded. Then the passage states that God spoke in a still small voice. That was far less impressive, but God was in it!

The danger is that God's people may be programmed in their thinking that God is only working when He shows Himself through the grand and visible. Don't we all love the miraculous, the supernatural, and the visible? Jesus was repeatedly confronted and surrounded by people who were looking for signs and wonders. God rent the mountains, shook the earth, and ignited the air in order to illustrate to this moody prophet, a prophet who wanted God to work in glorious ways, that He the Lord whispers in tones that are louder than the most deafening thunder! God was saying by splitting the mountains, quaking the earth, and torching the atmosphere, before the very eyes of Elijah, that He could sovereignly unnerve the foundations of men. However, such awe-inspiring actions do not mean that God is indeed in it. The Lord may not use such awesome events to speak to men.

God may not work in the earthquake, but in the heartbreak. God may not ignite the fire, but deepen the quagmire. God has many arrows in His quiver, and although all will hit their intended mark, not all the arrows are impressive. Some are miniatures which silently fly as they accomplish the sovereign goals of God. Yes, at times, God does blast the trumpets when He begins His work, but sometimes God's voice is merely the voice of a small babe in a manager. God doesn't always loudly shout His justice, or respond with strong argument, but at times He stands silent as the rooster crows.

Many times when we are in the caves of self-pity, as we struggle with God's will for our lives, we need to acknowledge that God is really shaping and molding our character through the trials of life and His small voice in our soul for real growth of character takes place in the valleys of life.

1. USA Today Cover Story - SPORTS Page 1C - February 28, 1992