Discouragement

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" - 1 Kings 19:9

"Everybody Hurts.... Sometimes, so Hold On" - Michael Stipe

Discouraged after yesterday? Lord knows I am – especially over Proposition 73. Parental rights are slowly being eroded in this state. ACC’s sermon on Sunday was almost prescient for Tuesday. The topic was the title of this post. Even Christians get discouraged, depressed, downright grief stricken. But a few thoughts from the sermon on discouragement:

Discouragement happens when:

We run away from problems. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. Elijah, after basking in the glory of the exposure of the Baal prophets as frauds and their summary execution, creating an island of righteous in a sea of fraud, deceit, murder, and downright evil for a stretch of time, found himself the target of Jezebel (ref. v 1-3). First some historical perspective - Israel in the time of Elijah, was run by a ruling family who could do nothing right and Ahab was the latest installment of worthless kings. Jezebel, his wife, was the most powerful woman in Israel at the time. She basically slept her way to the top with her wimp of a husband, Ahab. Jezebel was also the most evil woman in history, committing any and all depravities that suited her. The very name Jezebel was a derogatory term for woman several decades ago that equates to “ho” today. Basically a horrible person that meet a well deserved and grotesquely violent end (2 Kings 9:33). Anyway, Elijah was terrified of her and her power. So he ran. What problems will we run from today? I’m expecting to hear soon news of businesses, people, and communities picking up and leaving the state. Woe to us who can’t do that is my first reaction. But we are the Great Commission. What does that call us to? We’ve had some successes in this state. Yesterday was a setback. Granted, a HUGE one, but a setback nonetheless.

We give in to our fears. Elijah spooked after his success (sound familiar?). He faced down Ahab, who talked of killing him, faced down 450 prophets of Baal, who probably would have killed him under orders of their high priestess, Jezebel, and yet spooked and ran when Jezebel swore to kill him. Elijah, “a man just like us,” abandoned his faith in the Lord’s protection and ran for dear life. What fears of the future do we give into today?

We withdraw from our friendships. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there. I tend to withdraw into a shell when depressed. Elijah and I share that in common. Today, the “losers” from yesterday may begin sniping at each other. Not an effective strategery, my friends. Today I could sit here and sulk, but I’m called to more (read on).

We lose our sense of mission and importance. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors. Whew. Lord, take me now. How many times have you said that? I know how times many I have. But now is not the time to throw the towel or run off into the desert to die as Elijah did.

Encouragement happens when:

We pray honestly to the Lord. Elijah in the depth of despair raised up a hugely honest prayer to God. “I can’t take this no mo.” “Lord, do me the kindness of killing me.” “Lord, take me now.” Yikes! Very bold to talk like that to God. Similarly, Moses asked God to kill him before he killed the Israelites in his frustration with their incessant whining (Numbers 10:15). The Psalms are loaded with complaints to God. Today, we may be experiencing similar frustrations in being swept the way we were yesterday. No arguing about it, our cause got thumped and thumped hard. Now would be the time to complain to the Lord and express your frustration. In Elijah’s case, He listened. First He delivered angels to Elijah to pick him up out of his funk, make him eat and take care of himself, and get him ready for the journey to meet with God Himself at Mt. Horeb. Complain to God. Ask Him what went wrong and what you need to do for Him to ensure victory next time.

Transformation happens when:

We seek the Lord. Elijah went to Mt. Horeb and waited for God to come. He did.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (As if He didn’t know!)

Elijah answered,

"I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

“Huh,” the Lord seemed to reply before telling Elijah to go outside his cave [Cave (kâv) = A hollow or natural passage under or into the earth, or; to give up all opposition; yield. Which definition works for you today?).

Before stepping outside his “yielding place,” a great wind, an earthquake, and fire ravaged the mountain but “the LORD was not in” those events. Elijah then heard a small, gentle voice beckoning him outside of his yielding place:

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah answered as before amongst the ruins of Mt. Horeb. The analogy here is by retreating, Elijah would bring about great destruction since God “was not in” those destructive forces. Just like He wasn’t in Katrina, the Christmas tsunami, or earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. for those of you still deceived enough by the Dark One to believe God is a vicious killer. He is a small gentle voice prodding us back into His service with the question;

“What are you doing here, Bat - in this ‘cave?’ Why aren’t you out doing My will?”

Elijah received instruction from God that brought about the end of Jezebel and all her evil and another bright, if not lasting, day for Israel. For California to be bright again, we mustn't turn out our lights nor retreat to a cave. Answer that question, What are you doing here? and you too will receive the instructions for action you were destined to receive. Just like Elijah, who was just like us. In the meantime, lick your wounds, eat and rest, stay here in California with the rest of us, and get ready for next time.