THE ANTIDOTES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT (3)
THE ANTIDOTES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT (3)
Fourth, God urged Elijah to go back to work. While God made provisions for Elijah to go on a “spiritual retreat,” He did not want the prophet to quit his work permanently. When God said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He may have been hinting that it was time for Elijah to get back to work. Later, He specifically gave that order, telling Elijah, “Go, return.” In a similar way, one of the best antidotes for discouragement is to “go back to work”—maybe to take a few days off for rest, but then to go back to the job. The routine and hopefulness of continuing with our work can help to take our minds off disappointments.
When in good times one does the right things for a mate, he or she builds up something like a bank account, saving resources for when troubles arise. The husband and the wife form good habits that will carry them through the bad times. Likewise, the secret to overcoming negative feelings is always to do the right thing; then, when we are having difficulties, we can just keep on doing what we have always been doing, drawing strength from the constancy of our efforts. When we are troubled, we must “keep on keeping on,” regardless of how we feel. We just go back to work!
Fifth, God told Elijah to get help. Elijah was told to anoint three men who would, in some sense, be his allies in his struggle against King Ahab (1 Kings 19:15–17). In the same way, when we are dismayed by our problems, we need to ask for help, to find friends and allies. We are social creatures who need fellow workers to help us accomplish our aims. Church leaders must equip other members to use their talents for the Lord (Ephesians 4:11, 12). In times of discouragement, Christians ought to share their troubles with fellow Christians and accept encouragement from them. The Bible teaches Christians to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:14). We should try to be like Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36).
Sixth, God reminded Elijah that he was not alone. In 1 Kings 19:18, we read, “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Elijah felt alone (1 Kings 19:10, 14), but he was not alone! Others in Israel had not bowed down to Baal. Often we think that we are alone, that only we are faithful to God or have been persecuted. We think, “I am the only one who has ever had such an experience!” We are almost always wrong when we think this. Others are in similar situations. Others are faithful. Others care for us and will help us.
Above all, we can take heart because God is with us (Romans 8:35–39; Matthew 28:20)! The most encouraging thing that happened to Elijah was that God took notice of him and helped him. God does the same thing for us today. We can find encouragement from a number of truths. (1) God is still on the throne; He is sovereign and works out His will in the affairs of people today. (2) Christ is our Saviour; He shed His blood to save us, and salvation by that blood is available to all today. (3) As Christians, we enjoy all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). And (4) Heaven can be ours if we live as faithful Christians.
Word Affirmation: Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies - Psalm 27:12 (Don't just say it, mean it!)
“Heaven can be yours if you live as a faithful Christian.”
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