“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

What threatens or frightens you?

What makes you come unglued?

Elijah came unglued when his life was threatened by Jezebel -

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.'”

Elijah, however, did not come unglued when having a showdown with the 400 prophets of Baal the day before or other times when entire armies came after him.

David became unglued when Nabal dishonored him and his men after protecting his sheep -

When David received the message brought back by his men from Nabal who answered, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered from my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?'”

David's response was 'Each of you strap on your sword!'”

It was later Abigail who heard about it and met David with gifts and begging forgiveness while confronting his wrongdoing that helped him to back to a place of wiser judgment. David responded to Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 32-34, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one make belonging to Nabal would have been left alive at daybreak.”

David, also did not come unglued when facing Goliath or when having his life threatened by Saul.

Loyal Peter came unglued when they were arresting Jesus -

When they came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear. So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,…” (John 18:11-12) Peter then also denied Jesus three times after his arrest.

This is the same Peter who was named by Jesus “Rock” and had walked on water in the middle of a storm not too long before.

Esther came unglued when she heard about her fellow Jews being slaughtered -

When Esther first heard from Mordecai that there would be a mass genocide of the people by the king she was married to, she froze in fear. She was afraid to do anything about it and explained to Mordecai that she had not been called in to see the king and couldn't see him without invitation or she would risk her life.

Esther needed Mordecai's encouragement to become unstuck. In Esther 4:12-16 Mordecai responded to her, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Daniel did not come unglued when most people would expect someone to -

“When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king's officer, 'Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?' Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.”

Daniel's friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also did not become unglued in a frightening situation. When they were threatened to die in a fiery furnace if they did not bow down and worship the image the king set up, they answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Another example of not becoming unglued in the face of tremendous difficulty was Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem -

Nehemiah and the people experienced threat after threat against their lives for rebuilding the walls. People were sent to continually discourage them and try to get them to stop. Yet in the midst of the treats, political battles, and derision , Nehemiah kept a positive attitude and kept the people on task.

What is clear in these Bible stories is that people face difficulties at times in their lives where one could easily emotionally react in fear or anger. Reacting and coming unglued is ultimately a choice. When people do react, they make unwise choices that they either regret or allow someone else to speak into and help them get back on course.

Also, what makes one person react emotionally and potentially come unglued, may not impact someone else the same way at all. Each of us with how we are wired, are more prone to react to certain situations over others. 

What is also clear in these Bible stories is that God is big enough for our weaknesses.  Even when we loose it, he has a firm grip on us.

Some questions that come to mind as I think about this-

• Do you know yourself enough to know the situations that may cause you to react emotionally in a way that is hindering?
• Usually becoming unglued has to do with feeling a lack of control of the outcome / wanting in some way to maintain control. Are there places that we feel a lack of control that we need to surrender to God?
• Are there underlying issues we need to deal with?
• What do we need in these difficult situations to navigate through? How can we show ourselves grace and mercy in those places?
• Who are the encouragers that can speak into our life when we feel threatened, afraid, or angry and help us get back on track?