1st Kings Chapter 19.
Satan loves to play head games with us put lies into our minds. We easily believe things that aren't true. Elijah convinced himself he was the only prophet left. So he ran for his life. But God intervenes and when God intervenes he forces Elijah to face his fears and face his lies. God strengthened him and empowered him. His plan was proactive. He brought him out of hiding and into a plan. He brought him out of darkness into the light. He brought him out of the place of hopelessness and into a place of hope. He revealed his lies by showing him the truth. Elijah was not the only prophet left but there were still 7000 who have not bowed down to the false god Baal. God gave him a plan of Hope.
What are we hiding from? What lies are we listening to? What has us in darkness? Instead of the light? What fears do we need to face? Turn to God for strength. Pray your fears to him feed on the word of God and let him speak truth into your life. He'll give you a plan, a proactive plan, so you aren't just sitting around. Don't wallow in your fears but instead rise up in faith believing in a victory around the corner. Believe God will intervene. Don't let satan keep you in despair. Begin to praise and thank God for his upcoming answer to your problem. Put your faith into practice by praying words of thanksgiving in advance because you believe God will show himself. Then don't give up!!
Philippians 4:4-6 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Elijah had experienced such a great victory as he stood up to the 450 prophets of Baal in the previous chapter. He appeared to have such a deep faith in the Lord and confidence that God would come through for him as he even taunted the prophets of Baal while their fake god wasn’t answering them. Then we enter into this next chapter and Elijah looks like a completely different person. What happened to Elijah’s faith? He went from challenging 450 men and defeating them all to becoming afraid of one woman. He had just seen God do incredible things and yet he is now running away like a scared little rabbit. It seemed like his faith was replaced by fear. He went from celebrating a mountaintop experience to suffering with depression as he was alone in hiding. One thing that I see here is that it isn’t good to be isolated from other believers for very long, but to be together in fellowship and to help build each other up. Elijah wasn’t the only one left who hadn’t bowed to Baal even though he may have felt that way. We read about 7,000 others so Elijah was wrong, but God still didn’t give up on him.
Our level of faith may feel like Elijah’s experience sometimes with how it went up and down like a roller coaster, but I am actually encouraged by reading this chapter in how we see Elijah’s weak side too as an ordinary human being that God was able to use just as He can use us and help us to overcome any fears that we may have.
I’m reminded of a couple of Bible passages today.
Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He (God) has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Philippians 4:12-13
I (Paul) know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
F.B. Meyer said that self-pity is the most grievous of sins. Self-pity says to the Lord, “I don’t like what You’re doing in my life.” Like Elijah we all deal with depression from time to time. But I love what God teaches us here – don’t expect God to react or deal with a situation as we think He should. Remember that God is on the throne and nothing happens without His permission. His thoughts are not our thoughts; his timing is not our timing. He gives Elijah food, tells him to rest and then get busy – there’s still work to be done. It is wonderful advice prescribed by our Great Physician. Rest, get your eyes off yourself and then get busy for the Lord. (Smile on my face, joy in my heart!)