It is not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have their days of doubt. Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances. After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of <\/span>Israel<\/span>, he basically told the Lord, \u201cI\u2019m fed up. Just kill me. I don\u2019t want to deal with this another day.\u201d \u2014 (Numbers <\/span>11:11<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n Even the great apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at <\/span>Corinth<\/span>, \u201cWe were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life\u201d \u2014 (2 Corinthians 1:8).<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah, the great prophet, faced it as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for giving out the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop giving out God\u2019s Word altogether. He said, \u201cThe word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, \u2018I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name\u2019 \u201c \u2014 (Jeremiah 20:8-9).<\/span><\/p>\n You are not the only one who has ever faced doubt or uncertainty or has been perplexed as to why God did not work in a certain way. You are not the only one to encounter doubt and discouragement. We may be in the midst of God\u2019s working and can\u2019t see the big picture as He can.[1]<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mt.Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, \u201cTake my life.\u201d \u2014 (1 Kings <\/span>19:10<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n Today we will look at the example of Elijah and how God helped him deal with discouragement.<\/span><\/p>\n Many times they come from unrealized expectations. <\/span><\/p>\n Elijah came against 850 angry prophets earlier in this book. But he became discouraged after being threatened by a woman.<\/span><\/p>\n At other times they come from traumatic events. <\/span><\/p>\n But in each case, people experienced an event that caused them to be drained. This drain on their bodies and their spirits led to discouragement, and even depression. <\/span><\/p>\n Elijah was drained after the event on <\/span>Mt.<\/span> Carmel<\/span>. We should take care of our bodies especially after intense ministry and sacrifice<\/span><\/p>\n But Elijah\u2019s problem with discouragement was a spiritual condition not just a physical or emotional one. He saw Jezebel and forgot to look to the Lord. He listened to Jezebel\u2019s threats and not God\u2019s promises.<\/span><\/p>\n Much of our discouragement comes from listening to people who we should not be listening to. We hear a word that hurts us and want to keep that hurt. We say to ourselves that we don\u2019t like those words, but for some reason, we hang on to them. Notice that earlier, Elijah was listening to God. He was not worried about what others would say about him. But because one woman was making a threat on his life, he panicked. <\/span><\/p>\n In earlier times, Elijah waited on God\u2019s command (For example: 17:2, 17:8, 18:1, <\/span>18:36<\/span>). Now, Elijah\u2019s fear led to impatience which led to disobedience. (Is. 28:16). Elijah stopped risking his life for God, and started to worry about himself. This worry led to discouragement, made Elijah to make poor decisions: <\/span><\/p>\n 1. Elijah fled to <\/span>Judah<\/span>, forgetting that an enemy was reigning there\u00a0<\/span>(2 Kings 8:16-18)<\/span><\/p>\n 2. He traveled more then 80 miles into greater danger. <\/span><\/p>\n 3. Elijah because he wanted to be alone, left his servant, and this caused him to be more discouraged than he already was.<\/span><\/p>\n LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION usually go together<\/span><\/p>\n It is not good to be alone<\/span><\/p>\n And the LORD God said, \u201cIt is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.\u201d <\/span>(Genesis <\/span>2:18<\/span> NKJV)<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t desert an old friend of your family or visit your relatives when you are in trouble. A friend nearby is better than relatives far away. <\/span>(Proverbs 27:10 CEV)<\/span><\/p>\n This is especially important when your family and relatives live far away. <\/span><\/p>\n Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other. <\/span>(Proverbs 27:17 CEV)<\/span><\/p>\n Being alone in this condition causes you to make poorer decisions<\/span><\/p>\n One of the ways to deal with your discouragement is to reach out and make friends. It does not mean that you dump all of your worries on your friends. But it does mean that you spend time with them. As a matter of fact, spending time with other people will help you get your worries that are discouraging you out of your mind. Why? Because you are starting to think of others and not of yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n Elijah had his eyes on himself and his worries about what he had or had not done, and did not have his eyes on God!<\/span><\/p>\n God gave Elijah food. (v. 5-6)<\/span><\/p>\n God gave Elijah rest. (v. 6-7)<\/span><\/p>\n God gave Elijah spiritual nourishment. (v.5-7)<\/span><\/p>\n An angel guided Elijah during this time of rest and refreshment. The angel touched Elijah. The angel talked to Elijah. The angel comforted Elijah. God worked to help Elijah recover. Prayer is always helpful in times of discouragement. Prayer allows us to send our frustrations up to God. Prayer also lets us receive comfort from God. <\/span><\/p>\n Elijah was strengthened as he spent time with God (v.8). He spent 40 days and nights with God (just as Moses and Jesus did.) While in each of these cases, spending 40 days and nights represented a time that God would use for later service. Jesus started His ministry after 40 days. Moses was given the Ten Commandments after 40 days. Elijah was able to overcome his discouragement and self-pity and worry and confront evil. The same can be true in our case.<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes we are discouraged because we feel inadequate, or not useful. When we spent intense amounts of time with God, he can give us a clearer vision of how He is going to use us. But God will use any amount of time that we give to Him. It is very important that we give Him that time. <\/span><\/p>\n You can see that even in the cave, as God was speaking, Elijah was full of self-pity. \u201cI have done this for you God. But look at me.\u201d God says to us: \u201cStop talking like there is no one like you. Look to Me!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n God showed Elijah the bigger picture. (v.9)<\/span><\/p>\n Elijah had to realize that what God planned for him was bigger than his worries. God\u2019s promises were bigger than Elijah\u2019s problems. Elijah could not see it because he was in the middle of his worries. God had to remind Elijah that Elijah was not the only prophet and that God had plans for him. This new perspective of looking beyond your discouragement to see God\u2019s promises can help us out of our discouragement. God\u2019s promises are bigger than our problems. <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninha<\/span>bited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him and every day he scanned the horizon for help but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.<\/p>\n But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. \u201cGod, how could you do this to me!\u201d he cried.<\/span><\/p>\nBEING DISCOURAGED COMES FROM CONDITIONS IN LIFE <\/span><\/h3>\n
THE WAY TO FIGHT DISCOURAGEMENT IS THROUGH REFRESHMENT<\/span><\/h3>\n
IS YOUR HUT BURNING?<\/span><\/h3>\n