The Valley of Discouragement is a valley that no one wants to enter, but most of us have been there. And many of us are there now. What can we do with discouragement? Look at Elijah. He had done everything that God told him to do: he had challenged the priests of Baal to a contest to see whether their god or God would win. It was a pageant-like show to prove to the people that there is only one true God. And when God answered Elijah's prayer and rained fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifice, the people shouted, "The Lord, He is God!" Then Elijah had all the prophets of Baal killed. God won the contest!
So why did Elijah feel so discouraged? In I Kings 19:10, he said to God: "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." Elijah had to run for his life from Jezebel, who had sent him a message saying she was going to kill him because he had killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah escaped into the wilderness--afraid and discouraged by his predicament. But God was watching out for him, and as he slept under a tree, an angel touched him and gave him food and water to fortify him for his journey.
Why was Elijah discouraged? And here I'll quote my brother Ron: "Elijah was speaking to God. He had done great things by the power of God and for His glory. However, he felt that his efforts had been in vain; I am the ONLY PERSON on earth who is still serving You--I am so discouraged, please take my life." (I Kings 19:4) Ron continues, and I quote: "But Elijah obeyed the angel by refreshing himself with food in preparation for a journey. God said, 'Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him'." (I Kings 19:18) "By this statement and other manifestations of His power, God showed Elijah that obvious reason may appear for discouragement, but there are much greater reasons to overcome discouragement and to continue in obedience to God."
Poor Elijah! He had obeyed God and now he was in trouble with Jezebel! Remember how the Israelites became discouraged by their circumstances in the wilderness? And their discouragement included their leaders Moses and Aaron. And Moses was certainly so discouraged with the Israelites that he wanted to quit. God was so discouraged with mankind that he brought a flood to destroy most of the world. Later on God was also discouraged with the children of Israel. After being led out of Egyptian slavery, the Israelites were impatient that Moses was on Mount Sinai so long. He was there to receive the Ten Commandments, but because he was delayed in coming down, the people asked Aaron to make gods to lead them. So they took all their gold and made a golden calf. Discouraged, you say? Yes, even God gets discouraged by our behavior!
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Did you catch what God said to Elijah? He told him that He had reserved seven thousand men in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal! Now that was a news flash to Elijah. Here he was in a cave, feeling absolutely alone and fearing for his life, when God sent him to stand on a mountain. Then God spoke to him. God's plan was to destroy Baal worship in Israel. And he commissioned Elijah and Elisha to get it done!
Yes, of course, there are reasons for discouragement in our lives. But it's our job as Christians to use our faith and trust in God to find a way through it. We don't know everything that's going on, so we can't wallow too long in discouragement, because the good we could do will dissolve before our eyes. It's our duty to stand firm in God's will. Think of Noah who found favor in God's sight because of his faith. And even though Elijah became discouraged, his prayers and actions showed that he was a faithful servant.
Blessings...Mimi
Blessings...Mimi
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