Jump Start # 456 

2 Kings 4:26-27 “When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, ‘Behold, there is the Shunammite, please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, ‘It is well.’ When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, ‘Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 

  This Old Testament story is about Elisha, the prophet of God. In this section, he is continually called, “the man of God.” Gehazi, was his servant. The unknown Shunammite woman’s child had died. She was distressed. Elisha comes and resurrects the boy. Great story of the power of God.

  Elisha understood something very profound here—”her soul is troubled within her…and she has not told me.” That one phrase defines many people. There are many who have troubled souls within them.

• Like this woman, they are troubled about the health of their family. Aging parents, handicapped children, mom’s with cancer—those stories are not unusual any more. The age of many getting cancer treatments would shock us—people in their 20’s and 30’s. These things trouble the soul within.

• Sin and wrong troubles the soul of the righteous. Lot’s soul was tormented everyday by the behavior of the citizens of Sodom. Witnessing wrong will do that. What can be done? It’s everywhere? It’s overwhelming. Dishonesty, selfishness, greed, and a lack of respect for the God of Heaven and earth. These things trouble the soul within.

• Often, what happens down at the church house can trouble our souls. What ought to be a refuge and a haven of hope is simply not there. A lack of interest, people content to be stuck on autopilot, leaders that fail to lead, clueless preachers can make a person wonder why. These things trouble the soul within.

• Some are troubled by the wrong that they have done. They let their families down. They have hurt others with hateful words. They have give in to temptations and have sinned before God. Guilt, shame and fear have taken over their lives. They don’t know what to do. They don’t think God will ever forgive them.

  Our passage also reveals another interesting aspect to all of this, “she has not told me” was Elisha’s response. He knew she was troubled, but he didn’t learn that from talking with her, because she “has not told me.” Often those with troubled souls keep that to themselves. When the trouble is serious enough, it begins to show. Those closest will recognize that something’s not right. They may even ask, ‘Are you alright?’ Or, ‘you seem bothered about something.’ Often, and this is what I generally do, but I don’t recommend it, the person just keeps it to themselves. When Elisha’s servant asked the woman if all is well, she said, “It is well.”

  Why do we do that? Why do I do that? Don’t want to burden others…maybe we think, they won’t understand, maybe we feel, they have enough of their own problems…possibly we feel that they can’t do anything about it…or, mostly a bit of pride and the thought that I’ll work this out myself.

  There are some things that can not be worked out by ourselves. There are some things that we need the advice and help from others. This is why God has constructed the church the way it is—people that share a common faith, joined together in love and hope. We need to know that we don’t carry the burden alone—others are praying for us. We need to know that we don’t journey alone—there are others to walk along side of us. We need to know that people care—maybe if we don’t see it or know it, they do.

  All around us are people like this Shunammite woman. People who are troubled on the inside. They may not tell you. You may have to assure them that you are there for them. The message of the N.T., the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is good news. God cares. God doesn’t need to be reminded of who you are, He knows. He never forgets you, nor stops loving you. That’s the message that needs to be shared. Many troubles, if not all troubles, on the inside need to be given to God in prayer.

  God doesn’t want you to walk through life troubled on the inside. He wants you to connect to Him and then connect to His children. Christians are God’s hands, feet and eyes today. The Bible is God’s voice. Together, the troubled soul can find rest by coming to God. The answer is not in shallow phrases such as, “Cheer up and make the most of your day…” That doesn’t do much good. The hope, the answer, the direction is God. Point them to God. Turn to God. The God who cares, forgives and is waiting. That’s the real answer.

  Troubled within…we all get that way from time to time. Life will do that to you. God is there. He’s looking for you. Don’t carry those troubles…cast them upon the Lord as Peter tells us.

  We are one day closer to Heaven!

Roger