Discouragement Can Destroy Us

Note from today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 17-19

On Mount Carmel, Elijah won a decisive victory for the Lord over the false god, Baal. When God answered Elijah’s call by sending fire from heaven, the people said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:36-39). Then the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal were executed (1 Kings 18:40).

However, after this event, Elijah found himself discouraged. The queen threatened his life over what happened to her prophets (1 Kings 19:1-2). After he fled into the wilderness, he prayed to God, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:3-4).

A little later, he told the Lord, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14). Elijah was a faithful servant of God, yet even he became discouraged.

Yet God was not done with Elijah. So He encouraged him that he was not alone (1 Kings 19:18), that he still had work to do (1 Kings 19:15-16), and then gave him someone who could help (1 Kings 19:16, 19-21). Elijah needed to continue to serve the Lord until his time on earth was over.

So remember that discouragement can destroy us. Even strong, faithful Christians can experience this. Therefore, we need to remember that we are not alone and have work to do for the Lord and then find others who can assist and encourage us.