We are in a life and death battle against the enemy of the Lord. If you are not on his side he is out to take you down. He can do that a number of ways –
through lies and deceit (cults and other religions),
through self-centered pleasures (worldliness),
through unforgiveness and bitterness,
through persecution that results in you denying the faith,
through involving you in occult practices such as horoscopes, wigi boards, yoga, new age meditation, etc.,
through destroying your self worth through abuse, neglect.
But one of the easiest ways for the enemy to take down a child of God is through discouragement. Discouragement is defined as “being deprived of courage or confidence.” Many Christians burn out over discouragement and simply leave the church, leave God and give up for good.
Elijah had just defeated the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. The Lord God proved his power over the idols by sending fire down from heaven and lighting the sacrifice that Elijah had prepared. The prophets of Baal were revealed as charlatans and Yahweh as the true God.
But Jezebel, the queen and head of the Baal religion wasn’t going to give up. She sent message to Elijah threatening his life. Verse 3 reveals the beginning of what became the downfall for this man of God: “Then he was afraid and he arose and ran for his life.”
How could such a great man of God run? He finally gave in to the fear that had been gripping the rest of the nation. What happened? He abandoned the post – he couldn’t cope – he lost it and ran as far away as he could into the south.
1. Physical carelessness can take us down
Think of the past 3 ½ years. Elijah had been sitting by a stream in the quiet presence of God. Then in Zarephath for the rest of the time in the peaceful presence of the widow. Now in one moment he is on the stage of the country. Confronting the leadership, death of the false prophets, running to Jezreel, and then running away from the queen for his life until he collapsed in the desert. It was just too much.
Part of discouragement comes from simple physical strain and exhaustion. We can physically burn out from over work, from never taking time off to rest, to be with God, to eat right, get exercise.
God rested on the Sabbath and he commanded his people to do the same once a week. He knew that they needed it for strength, for recuperating.
2. HOPELESSNESS can take us down (read 19:4)
A second source of discouragement is hopelessness. After the victory on Mount Carmel and the rains Elijah probably thought the battle would be won and the nation would turn. But when he finds out that Jezebel is seeking his life now more than ever, it’s more than he can bear. I can imagine him thinking - “When will it be over Lord? I’ve been through so much!” He could only see a grinding grueling battle day after day so much like the girl with the never-ending shoe-tying project.
Yes, the battles go on, the enemy is still present. But after each battle you learn more and more to fight in God’s strength and not your own. You know to trust in God’s deliverance and not to stress about the outward appearances. There is always hope because if you read to the end of the book – God wins!
3. LONELINESS can take us down
A third source of discouragement - loneliness. In verse 3 he leaves his servant to be all alone which is not healthy. He says in verse 10 “I alone am left” (10). Whereas he should have sought out the fellowship of other faithful prophets of God. Instead he runs out by himself without support. He convinced himself that no one understood, no one was defending the Lord, no one was really faithful except for him. He would have to run as a renegade from the law for many more years. No future.
This is such a common source of discouragement, we lock ourselves in and don’t let anyone else. Sometimes with me it can be like prying a piece of steel up with a crowbar for my wife to get me to open up and share. For some reason we love to commiserate alone and suffer alone. We begin to then believe the lie that “no one knows” and “no one understands” and “no one is here to help.” But those are lies because there are those willing to help, there are others around us – but we have to open up. And of course God understands. No believer is truly alone unless he or she chooses to be that way.
4. SELF-PITY can take us down
A fourth source of discouragement here is self-pity. Until this chapter, Elijah the prophet was single minded. You can read the chapters leading up to this. It’s amazing how faithful he is: Always looking to God. When the widow had no food, he trusted God. When she lost her son, he trusted God. When Ahab accused him – He kept his eye on the Lord.
But something has happened in chapter 19. Now he looks at himself instead of the Lord and feels sorry for himself. He says (vs 5b) “I am no better than my fathers.” Why would he compare himself? What does GOD expect of him? That’s more important. This would spiral on itself as he would realize that running from this critical time has only made the situation worse.
Comparing yourself to others only digs a greater pit of discouragement every time because we somehow never quite match the ones we compare ourselves to. You see, it’s fairly easy for us to get discouraged.
So what is the resolution for discouragement? How did Elijah escape from this deadly pit of sorrow?
1. He took care of his PHYSICAL NEEDS (5-8)
Look at verses 5-8. Being so strung out since he left the widow, he needed physical renewal. In times of depression, this is very important. Rest and refreshment are necessary to someone burnt out too.
We need to let God take care of our physical needs and not neglect ourselves. Get enough rest. Eat well. Don’t overeat. Exercise. Take care of the body that God has given you.
2. Revealed his FAITHFULNESS and LOVE
God is a faithful provider as in other times in which Elijah was in need. 2 Tim. 2:13 reminds us too - when we are faithless, he remains faithful. God hasn’t changed – he’s still the same. But our perspective has changed. We might see things as bad, as desperate, as doom and gloom.
And so God revealed that to Elijah. This was the first time God appeared to him as an angel. In the past He provided for Elijah through birds or through a needy widow. That alone reveals God’s love and care. But now God’s mercy is even more clear with this angel. God will send help. God will provide for you. Receive the help when it comes.
Notice that thanks to God’s provision, Elijah is able to not only travel all the way to Horeb or Mt. Sinai, but to have strength for 40 days! That’s called the strength of the Lord.
Has God provided for you in the past? Will he not do so again in the future. Even if you lose all – your home, your family, your church – God will still be there. He will take care of you!
3. Pour yourself out before God (9-10)
Restoration from discouragement comes through experiencing God’s faithfulness and love, but also pouring yourself out to God. By going to Sinai, it’s obvious that Elijah is seeking God’s voice. The fact that he spent 40 days there makes him parallel to Moses (Exo. 24:2) and Jesus who spent 40 days in the wilderness (Mt 4:2). We may recall that it was exactly those three who appeared to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration.
But what happens when Elijah gets there? God asks him a question: “What are you doing here?” (v. 9 & 13) Elijah then pours out his complaint to the Lord (v. 10). We may criticize him for that complaint but actually it’s an important part of healing prompted by God. He’s not to hold it in but to pour out all his burdens and griefs to the Lord. David did the same thing in many of the Psalms – he pours out his grief, anger, and discouragement to God. Cry, weep, shout out – pouring out your heart before God is so important as we open up the floodgates of our soul. Worse is to hold it in and hold it in – like a balloon that’s overinflated, sooner or later there will be an explosion. Believe me, then serious damage is done. Do you pour out your heart before God?
But now that the floodgates are open, Elijah is ready to face reality – he’s ready to be confronted with the hard, cold truth. You can’t run away from the world. You have an uncompleted job. Why are you here when you should be there? Instead of saying “you fool! You should be working! You are wasting your time!” he uses a question that forces the prophet to confront his own actions.
4. LISTENING TO THE GENTLE WHISPER (11-13a)
A crucial part of overcoming discouragement is listening to the gentle whisper of the Lord. Read 19:11-13a.
God speaks to Elijah again. But this time in an unusual way – a way that reveals his mercy and grace. God spoke not in a word of judgment like he did in Mt. Sinai with the Law with the strong wind which broke the rocks, the earthquake, the fire. Here he spoke in a gentle blowing - really a gentle whisper.
Yes there are times when God will come to us with a shout and powerful words of rebuke, but other times he gently wants to speak to our hurting soul which needs a gentle touch and not a hammer. The big question is this: will we be quiet enough to hear him speak? So many times our thoughts and emotions and activities are so busy that we neglect to listen to God and the quiet way he speaks to us in his word. God spoke through the fire on Mount Carmel but he also speaks in a gentle whisper.
And that is why we have a “quiet” time every day instead of a “loud time.” It’s a time to be quiet, to read God’s Word, to spend time not only speaking to God but waiting upon him and listening to him speak through his Word, through the Holy Spirit. Do you wait upon the quiet whisper of the Lord? We fill our time with so much noise – TV, radio, telephone, people around us. How often is it truly quiet? How can you expect to be guided, strengthened, blessed if you don’t. With a whisper you MUST pay close attention.
What did God whisper to Elijah? Read 19:15-18.
You see, it seems that Elijah had a false impression of the work of God. He expected God to only work in great acts of judgment - great revivals and many crowds – lighting from heaven – earthquakes – big powerful sermons. Now Elijah feels all by himself – a lone prophet. But notice what God has been doing behind the scenes: “I will leave 7000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” All this time God has been whispering to these 7000 who have remained faithful! He is not alone thanks to the work of the Lord. Elijah thinks a little too much of his ministry.
Discouragement sets in when we think we are alone but God confronts that with the face that there are thousands he has whispered to – those he has strengthened and encouraged. What an encouragement!
5. Get back to work!
God overcomes discouragement in us by getting us back to work to do your responsibilities even if you don’t feel like it. The easiest way to handle discouragement is to run away and stay away. But is that what God wants for your life? Hide in a cave? Of course not! So God gave Elijah a few jobs to do. What are they? He is told to anoint three leaders: Hazael king over Aram, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha as prophet in your place. As a prophet he had assignments to complete for the Lord.
What is it that you are neglecting because of discouragement? Your family? Your church? Your children? As you quietly listen to the Lord, what would he send YOU to do?
6. God gave him the needed FELLOWSHIP (19ff)
Finally, discouragement is overcome by fellowship with other believers. The need he had for fellowship God provided for immediately as Elijah obeyed by anointing Elisha as the future prophet.
Don’t neglect the meeting together with others. As much as we might feel we don’t need other believers and can skip Bible study, home groups, or even worship, God knows that without other believers and their fellowship we will fall into discouragement.
Friends, receive the encouragement of the Lord’s presence, His whispering Word, the fellowship he sends your way in the form of fellow believers. Receive his love and faithfulness. You are not alone – don’t ever believe that lie. Stop, listen, and receive the encouragement of the Lord!
