“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Do you recall the story of Elijah? He spoke for God, raised a young boy from the dead and called fire down from heaven.
He was the voice of God, telling those around him to repent and seek God. He had known God’s power firsthand yet is found cowering in a cave at one point in his story. He had been a part of some incredible displays of God’s power, but he hid in a cave when Jezebel threatened his life. Although he had been involved in so many dramatic miracles, he felt the need to tell God that he had enough. Elijah was ready to throw in the towel as he thought he alone was working for God’s kingdom, a task he thought was too big for him.
When you read Elijah’s story, you could become a bit discouraged, wondering what chance we have in this world if someone like Elijah felt the desire to give up. Sometimes we have days where, after going through our practice of prayer and thanksgiving, we enter the world, look around at the people or things we have prayed about and see no change. We may question our usefulness and ask ourselves, “why bother?”
God spoke to Elijah while sitting in the cave and asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah moans about his situation. God tells him to go outside because He will make His presence known, and Elijah leaves the cave. God puts of a show of His power with windstorms, crashing rocks, earthquakes, lightning flashes, and fire. All this happens before Elijah’s eyes, but he cannot see God and goes back into the cave. As Elijah huddles in the corner, he hears a whisper, and God asks him again, “What are you doing here.” God, who had been with Elijah for a long time, seemed to have slipped from Elijah’s mind. He feared a woman who threatened Him, not the God who called Him. When Elijah is thinking, “why bother” God reminds him that he has a purpose that is linked to serving Him and that he needs to listen, trust, and obey whether he sees results or not.
While many things demand our time and attention, it’s essential to keep your line of communication open with God. Pray for what is good and right. Pray for your relationships, your marriage, your family, for your health – don’t give up! Know that you are not alone and are in the hands of God. He will provide you with strength when you need it. When you feel like giving up, be reminded that God loves you and wants to live life to the full. If you’re struggling in life, don’t give up – there are better things yet to come!