Black Mold

1 Kings 18:36-39
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”


My parents got some bad news last week. Their Florida condominium is covered with black mold. Since they left the condo in May, the insidious, toxic mold has entered through their ductwork, attacking every soft surface. Furniture, books and shoes were ruined; all clothing, carpet and linens would have to be cleaned.

Sometimes we’re lulled into a complacent black mold of the soul. It invades everything and is difficult to eradicate once it takes hold. It may creep in as we miss a week of worship here and there, or quit reading our Bible each day; or it may be triggered by an overwhelming life circumstance. No matter how it starts, suddenly we’re awakened, as the Israelites were in 1 Kings 18, and realize we’ve strayed far from where we’d wanted to go.

How do we get back on track? Psychologists have determined that resistance to depression is best developed by doing two things: applying critical thinking to emotional reactions and setting and working toward goals (Psychology Today, “A Nation Of Wimps,” by Hara Estroff Marano). These same two tactics can help us spiritually as well. We need to be grateful, no matter our circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and add discipline to our lives in the form of goal setting and accomplishment to be effective workers for God in the world.

How can we thank God for our spiritual dryness? In Exodus 3:20, God speaks to Moses of the “wonders” He will perform in Egypt. You know, God sent flies, blood, locusts, open sores, and even killed their firstborn. We see these things as plagues, but God viewed them as the wonders that would free His chosen people.

We’re God’s chosen ones today (1 Peter 2:9). The plagues in our lives may be working to free us of our spiritual complacency and dryness, our black mold of the soul.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the hard things you send my way. Help me to live life with a grateful heart and to be disciplined in working hard for You. Keep me from the black mold. Keep me focused on You. Amen.