Overcoming Battle Fatigue

In regard to people, the key words are mercy, compassion, and distinction.

In regard to sin, the watchwords are fear and hate. We must make distinctions between the penitent and the impenitent, between the perpetrators and the victims, between those struggling with sin and those indifferent to it. Indifference is cheap. Self-righteousness is cheap. Mercy is costly. But mercilessness is more costly, “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (Jam. 2:13).

Satan uses unrealized expectations to discourage us. Moses expected to lead his brethren out of Egypt, and he expected them to expect it too. When they didn’t, he fled to the wilderness (Acts 7:25). Moses had his degree in Egyptian Studies (Acts 7:22), but his education was lacking. God sent him away to graduate school where he learned about sheep. For forty years he learned about sheep by leading his father-in-law’s flock around Sinai. Then for the next forty years he applied his knowledge by leading the flock of God around Sinai. Some promising preachers have fled to the wilderness because their early expectations were not realized.

Sometimes others expect more of us than we can deliver, and when they do we become discouraged. Naaman only half listened to his little Israelite servant girl who told him there was a prophet in Samaria who could heal his leprosy. He approached the King of Syria for help, and the king naturally sent a letter to his counterpart in Israel. “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kgs. 5:6).

“Cure him of leprosy! Who does he think I am—God! He’s just trying to pick a fight with me.” There was a prophet in Israel and Naaman was eventually healed, but there were some tense moments for the frightened and discouraged king of Israel. When others expect more of us than we can deliver, we either lash out in anger or pull back in discouragement.

When Satan succeeds in discouraging us, we often give up on ourselves, on others, and on God. Then, like Elijah, we crawl off into a cave to hide.

From the Thrill of Victory to the Agony of Defeat

Elijah had stood fearlessly before 450 prophets of Baal, along with their cheerleaders. “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kgs. 18:21). When no one answered him a word, he proposed a little contest. They would construct an altar, lay their wood and sacrificial bull on it, and then they would call on the name of Baal and he would call on the name of God. The one that answered with fire to consume the sacrifice would then be recognized as God.

The prophets of Baal went first. All day long they begged, “O Baal, hear us!” They tried to get his attention by leaping about the altar and cutting themselves with knives and lances, but nothing happened. Elijah mocked them, suggesting that they cry a little louder, for maybe Baal was meditating, was busy, or taking a nap. Elijah was neither afraid of them nor their god.