How quickly we can plunge from mountaintop highs to the depths of despair. We return from a retreat, revival, or mission trip overflowing with enthusiasm. Then we’re slapped in the face with the day-to-day reality of people who fail to understand or try to undermine our service to God. We focus on our fears rather than God’s facts.
Elijah was no different. That brave man of God who single-handedly faced down 450 prophets of Baal soon cowered in a cave ready to die. The Bible tells us that “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (1 Kings 19:3 NIV).
As he ran from Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah focused on his feelings rather than God’s facts. He feared what people could do to him rather than remembering the power of the one true God he served. When he listened to God’s gentle whisper, once again he recognized what God had done, what God was doing, and what God could do through him. His experience serves as a reminder for modern-day believers as well.
Former Facts
Elijah earlier confronted Ahab and Jezebel and their prophets with God’s boldness. He not only prayed for fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice but made such an event seemingly impossible by soaking the entire offering, wood, and ground around it with water. God can also miraculously transform our lives when we offer all that we have, saturated with our limitations and the world’s skepticism. God makes the impossible possible.
Present Facts
While Elijah wallowed in depression, God fed him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. How often we fail to adequately care for ourselves. We lack the physical nourishment, spiritual sustenance, and emotional feedback necessary to face our daily battles. God stands ready to walk with us through our valleys — to take us from feelings of discouragement and defeat to the reassurance that we are never alone and the battle is already won. God offers daily strength for whatever lies ahead.
Future Facts
Twice, God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?” God was prepared to give new direction to Elijah and those who would follow in his footsteps, but Elijah had to listen. When he did, God told him he was not alone, to get out of that cave, and to get back to work. When we feel out of sorts, God allows adequate recovery. Yet, we too must eventually get up and move again.
Facing Our Fears
Forget human frailties. Focus on God’s facts.
Amen Diana!!
God’s Facts often seem upside down, impossible or hard to trust as true ….
I know i get overwhelmed with Present Facts !!
But you are right
We get tired but God is gentle to get is going again!!
Thanks for the reminder!
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Amen! We need to stay focused on God’s facts instead of our fears. Thanks for this encouraging word of truth.