READING: 1 Kings 18-20
It’s amazing to me how quickly we forget the hand of God in granting us victory. Sometimes it seems like it’s only minutes after victory that our faith gets stretched beyond its limits — and we struggle again.
Elijah had experienced a marvelous victory on Mt. Carmel. God had displayed His mighty power through the prophet, defeating 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. The prophets of Baal and Asherah could only scream at their non-listening gods, and the result was clear: “But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention” (1 Kings 18:29). That’s what happens when you cry out to false gods.
Elijah needed no such screaming to his God. He called on the Lord to make His name known, and God declared His power by consuming a water-drenched offering with the “fire of the Lord” (1 Kings 18:38). The people could then cry out only these words: “The Lord—He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). What a day of victory of Elijah!
But, the very next chapter finds the prophet hiding in a cave under the death threats of Queen Jezebel. In fact, he even prayed that he might die, for he had had enough (1 Kings 19:4). The Lord was still God, but Elijah seemed to have forgotten that truth.
How does that happen, even for us? First, we’re sometimes caught off guard when great battles follow tremendous victories. Elijah must have been surprised when, after God clearly and dramatically worked through him at Mt. Carmel, Jezebel still came after him. We’re often surprised when the enemy doesn’t quit after he’s been defeated.
Second, we get so focused on present-tense battles that we forget past-tense victories. It’s always easier to tell others how to trust God in a battle than it is to trust Him when the battle is ours. Today’s struggle clouds memories of yesterday’s wins.
Third, we’re all susceptible to fear. Even when we don’t want to go there — when we want to be people of faith — fear sometimes consumes us. That emotion is really quite powerful, you know. At the end of the day, though, here’s what we must remember: we have no reason to fear the enemy. No enemy of ours has ever been, or ever will be, stronger than God.
ACTION STEPS:
- If you have a tendency to be easily discouraged even after a victory, determine if one of the above reasons contributes to your discouragement.
- Thank God that He loves us always, even when we struggle with trusting Him.
- If you are deeply discouraged today (like Elijah was), take steps to talk to somebody. Don’t carry your burden alone while hiding in your own cave.
PRAYER: “Father, give me victory over discouragement. Help those I know who also find themselves giving up.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 21-22