Loneliness and isolation are endemic to the ministry. Ministry isolation and loneliness is partly self-imposed and is partly imposed by the ministry itself.
Let’s examine the life of the Prophet Elijah (see I Kings 19:10). In his life and ministry we see the anatomy of loneliness and its remedies. The remedies are not secular, but biblical, spiritual and practical.
Elijah was a nineth century prophet (870–845 B.C.). God called him to speak prophetic truth to God’s wayward people and to unjust powers.
The pinnacle of Elijah’s confrontation with the kingdoms of this world can be found in 1 Kings 18 as he faced down and destroyed the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, which led to the humiliation of the spineless King Ahab and his ruthless wife, Queen Jezebel.
You would think that the nature of this victory would put Elijah on the docket of the latest pastor’s conference but, instead, it put him on the run, overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, isolation and self-harm under the pressure of Queen Jezebel’s retaliation.
This proves the axiom that deep depression often follows great victories.
Heavy load
And what did Elijah do? He added to his already lonely position of a spiritual leader with a self-imposed season of isolation and loneliness.
What God called Elijah to do was isolating in and of itself. There is no cure for this. Let’s not kid ourselves. Ministry is a lonely business. The weight of speaking to God’s people on behalf of God and his petitioning God on behalf of God’s people is a heavy load that can overwhelm even the strongest of us.
Yet, we can add to the incurable nature of ministry loneliness and isolation. When Queen Jezebel put out the “hit” on Elijah, he ran. He wanted to quit. He wanted to die. He thought he deserved better, unlike what his “fathers” had previously received (I Kings. 19:4).
And what were the remedies God used to bring his prophet out of his isolation and loneliness?
First, Elijah slept. Rest is a necessary part of spiritual and physical renewal.
Second, Elijah ate. What we eat when we’re lonely can exacerbate or mitigate the impact of isolation.
Third, God relocated Elijah’s super powers as a prophet away from Elijah back to God.
According to I Kings 19:7 the angel of the Lord reminded Elijah of the truth that “the journey is too great for you.”
In other words, part of our self-imposed loneliness and isolation is we falsely believe we are special, are able to accomplish more than we can, deserve more than what we’re receiving and we can do it on our own.
Fourth, God played the Prophet to the prophet by speaking to Elijah (I Kings. 19:9–12). The prophet who spoke needed to be spoken to. And the speaking wasn’t in a storm, an earthquake, or in the fire, but in a still, small, tender but clear voice of God.
The pastor who preaches the Word can become isolated from the Word because he has treated the Word like a job rather than his spiritual nourishment. The lonely pastor must preach afresh to himself God’s Word before he preaches it to anyone else.
Asking questions
Fifth, God also asked Elijah twice the diagnostic question of his location, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God’s process of recovering God’s pastors is partly accomplished by asking diagnostic questions. Scripture is replete with many self-diagnosing questions that are more important than what can be found in the categories of secular psychology. As we read Scripture God reads us, helping us diagnose our condition and revealing strategies for our recovery.
Sixth, God turned Elijah’s complaint that he and he alone was left to speak for Him. God reminded him that he was not alone. Lonely pastors must know they’re not alone and must seek out others for friendship and fellowship.
Seventh, God recommissioned Elijah to do what prophets are called to do — anoint Hazael King over Syria and Jehu as King of Israel. When ministry isolation and loneliness sets in we can forget what God has called us to do in the first place — preach and teach God’s Word to God’s people for God’s glory. We are not called to be their Savior. We are called to humbly minister to God’s people in God’s power.
Biblical remedies
Finally, God commanded Elijah to anoint and train his successor, Elisha. Did you get that? God encouraged Elijah by reminding him that he was not nor would he ever be the only prophet.
Elijah was to be the prophet for his time and season. But he would not be the only prophet, thereby releasing Elijah from the weight of thinking that if he failed — if he didn’t change the world — his ministry was an utter disaster. It wasn’t.
Ministry isolation and loneliness are normal. But self-isolation is not healthy.
God has remedies that are biblical, spiritual and practical. Let us hear God’s Word and come out of the desert of loneliness and isolation for a new season of ministry leaving the results to God.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Kevin Shrum and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.
