Read 1st Kings 19:1-18
“And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life…And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!'”—1 Kings 19:3-4
Elijah was the spiritual Superman of his day: He declared a drought that lasted until he prayed for rain 42 months later. He resurrected a widow’s son from the dead. He defeated the 450 prophets of Baal in the test atop Mt Carmel before having them put to death. When King Ahab reported Baal’s defeat to Queen Jezebel, she sent a message to Elijah, a promise to put him to death by that time the next day. Queen Jezebel’s threat was like kryptonite that seemingly neutralized Elijah’s fierce, fearless spiritual power and left this Superman afraid and running for his life.
If it happened to the mighty Elijah, it can happen to us—the personal time of testing. When trouble camps at our door it’s no longer a theological discussion nor an opportunity for rote, clinical words of comfort. When it’s personal, we can find ourselves losing heart.
It’s one thing to minister to others and provide comfort, encouragement and relief during their times of need. It can be totally different when we’re the one going through the trial, distress or temptation. Sometimes the most difficult person to minister to, and the hardest person to encourage, is yourself. The solution isn’t always as obvious when it’s your struggle.
As Elijah discovered, the answer isn’t found in listening to our own tale of woe, but listening to the only One who can truly minister to us—God. God provided Elijah strength for the coming journey (v5-7), put Elijah to work on his next mission (v15-16), and assured Elijah he was not alone in the battle (v18). Our strength lies in the provisions and Word of God, staying focused on God’s plan for our lives, and recognizing we’re never alone in this battle.
When trouble becomes personal, do you take the trouble to your personal God?
“…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”— Joshua 1:9
