A Lesson from Elijah

Have you ever been faced with a huge problem? Did the problem seem so difficult that you longed to get away from it? Did the problem scare you? Elijah, a mighty man of God, could probably answer yes to these questions. At a certain time in his life, he was deeply troubled and needed rest. Let's take a look at his story in 1 Kings 19:1-15...

"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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said to him, 'Go and return on your way."

Elijah was so weary and depressed that he longed for God to let him die. But God had a different plan for Elijah. When we're burdened down like Elijah, God still has a good plan for us, too. I believe when Elijah went to the wilderness he was looking for rest. During this resting period for Elijah, he was given food to strengthen him for the journey. All of us need to be strengthened for life's journeys. There are various ways that God gives us strength. One way is through the spiritual food of His Word found in our Bibles.

As Elijah rested, He also waited on God. (See 1 Kings 19:11-13.) Waiting on God gave Elijah strength; and in like manner, as we wait on God we shall be strengthened. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). As we wait on God, we must seek Him with all of our hearts. We must listen for His voice; and when He speaks, we must obey Him.

After Elijah was strengthened, after he had rested and sought God, God told Him, "Go and return on your way" (1 Kings 19:15). Sometimes God will say that to us, too, after our strength has been increased. Sometimes God sends us to tackle our problems. God wanted Elijah to keep on walking, and like Elijah, we must keep on walking. God had a mission for Elijah and God has a mission for us.

Wherever God wants us to be, we must go there. Sometimes it's simple to follow God's lead. At other times, though, it can be scary to obey Him because we don't know what's going to happen. But God has chosen us and not rejected us. We don't have to fear because He's with us. We don't have to be anxious because He's our God. He will strengthen us and help us. He will uphold us with His right hand. (See Isaiah 41:9-10.)

When the sea of doubt feels like it's going to drown you, remember that God makes a way in the sea. (See Isaiah 43:16.) When the troublesome fire and the high waters of fear seem like they're going to destroy you, remember that God is with you. (See Isaiah 43:2.)

I'd like to leave you with this truthful and hopeful challenge: We walk by faith, not by sight; so have faith in God and walk wherever He leads you.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that as we walk by faith in You, you lead us to the place that You want us to be...the place that is best for our relationship with You. God, may we seek You in prayer and worship, may we be inspired by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and may we feast on Your Word so that we'll receive the strength that only comes from you. May our fear be replaced with courage. May our doubts be replaced with faith. May our will for our lives be replaced with your good and perfect will for our lives. May our hope always be in You. As we walk in Your ways, may we always glorify You. We love you and thank You! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.