FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF VICTORY TO THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR
“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” 1 Kings 19: 1-3.
The people of Israel were divided. Ahab and his wife Jezebel convinced them they could worship both God and Baal. And to please Mrs. Jezebel, Ahab had altars erected to Baal.
But there was a prophet in the nation! Confident of the power of God, Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the false god Asherah to a showdown on Mount Carmel. He also assembled the people on the mountain and accused them of spiritual prostitution. The prophets of Baal accepted the challenge, set up their altar and began crying to their god. But no fire falls. Then Elijah called on the Lord, and God's fire fell from heaven. The Most High proved to the people of Israel that Baal was a powerless creation of mankind.
Sadly, Elijah may have thought, “Finally, revival will take place in the land.”
But the moment Ahab arrived home and informed his wife of what Elijah did, she sends Elijah a message saying, “You have killed all of my prophets; by this time tomorrow I am going to kill you also.” So he ran! Elijah felt fear and despair. So he abandoned everything and fled into the desert. Instead of feeling victorious, Elijah felt hopeless, alone and afraid.
In one chapter, he is standing in total victory on top of Mount Carmel, but in the very next chapter, Elijah is hiding in a cave wishing to die. For a brief moment, he was at the peak of ministerial success, but in a short while, he is in the depths of despair. The same man, who once stood on the mountain top of victory, now lies in the valley of defeat. In one instance Elijah is joyful because of the victories on Mount Carmel, and the next he is sad and wishing for death. Elijah didn’t want to die. If he did, he should have stayed where Jezebel’s men could easily find him. He was merely discouraged, emotionally and physically spent. Indeed, life is full of peaks and valleys. But our faith in God must remain constant.
Despite the miracles God performed through him, Elijah was only human, like us. Have years of sustained conflict left you weary and discouraged? Maybe you are feeling like him now: afraid, alone, and hopeless. Perhaps years of hardship, rejection, and failure had taken their toll. Elijah was exhausted and, therefore, prone to doubt, discouragement and despair.
Sometimes we are physically worn out when we have engaged in a spiritual battle, and it is only natural that the weaknesses we feel result in despair. Perhaps Elijah suffered from despair because he was lonely. The Bible teaches us that we should be like the parts of a body. The enemy will push you into isolation in other to attack, so, don’t fall into the trap.
Another trick of the enemy to introduce despair is through failure.
"Do not rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me." Micah 7:8. Everyone faces the disappointing sting of failure in one way or another. Has your ministry work ever felt fruitless? Have you ever felt so defeated you just wanted to quit? It's not over. God has not finished with you. Failure is not final.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2.
At the end of Jesus's 40-day fasting and prayer, he was tempted by the devil.
The devil knows the right time to attack. Unless you’re careful, his attacks will be successful when you’re battle-weary. He will take advantage of your weaknesses. Satan tries to rob you of hope, joy and peace. He will attempt to put a message of fear in your heart to get you to flee: to get you away from your source of strength or place of assignment. The enemy will try to get you to stop pursuing your God-given assignment. Yet Jesus battled him with the Word and won. So can you.
“3 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—“
2 Corinthians 4:7-8.
Even the strongest believers are subject to fear and doubt, but God never promised us an easy life. However, He did promise to care for us and walk through those dark valleys with us.
1. Take time off.
Elijah experienced burnout because he had been so busy taking care of the needs of the nations that he had neglected his own needs. Elijah needed rest, food, and relaxation.
If you struggle with despair, take time to take care of yourself so that you can care for those around you. Don’t fake the smile, by appearing happy, and on top of the world to others, while internally suffering. If you need to spend time alone to be healthy, then spend time alone. This is a necessary time for you. Rest, and take care of your body.
2. End the pity party.
When we feel discouraged, we need people who speak to us and stick with us. However, we tend to isolate ourselves. A pity party is usually a party of one. Self-pity is self-sabotage. It is a bottomless well. Once a person allows himself to start plunging there, they fall into a deep, dark place. Self-pity keeps one in the wilderness when God has a Canaan in place. It will rob you of your hope. It is the rewind button in our memory bank.
Don’t sit around in isolation. Dismiss the pity party. Get up and get back to your divine assignment. Your life and ministry are not over; God still has much in store for you.
3. Run toward God.
In his season of despair, loneliness and depression, Elijah sought solace in the presence of God. When he set out across the desert, he headed straight for Mount Horeb, the “mountain of God.” Elijah ran to his Father’s arms like a young child in distress.
In your despair, seek the LORD. He will comfort and restore you. Find some quiet place to meet with Him. Your mind may be full of doubts. But do it. Go to God and be still. Draw strength from the presence of God. Get alone with Him and listen to His instruction.
4. Read and Meditate on the Word of God.
If you are in despair today, make sure your diet is a diet of the word of God. You need fresh bread and water for your journey! "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. Keep resisting the devil with the Word of God and put him to flight. Take time to read the Word of God everyday.
5. Avoid making a crucial decision.
Despair always makes us unable to see the facts as they are. So, you should avoid making important decisions. You are not seeing things clearly as they are now. There will be a day when you will feel much happier. That would be a better time to make a decision.
6. Just like Elijah, remember that you are not alone.
There are still faithful men and women of God like you in this world. Cheer up.
Be humble to sit under the ministration of another servant of God. Take advantage of the opportunity. You have been ministering to others; it is your time now to be ministered to.
7. See the bright side of life.
Despair is a fog that clouds your mind. It saps your energy and distorts your view of reality. When it descends, you can’t see anything good, everything feels sad, everything appears gloomy and dark. No matter what life has thrown you, you can have the peace of God in your heart. Things can seem desperate, hopeless, out of control, but if you turn your eyes to Jesus, if you believe and trust him, and not your own understanding, there will be a great calm in your life. Open your eyes. Give thanks for what you have. Hope is not lost.
8. Keep walking in faith.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. Refuse to be discouraged. Keep praying. Have faith. Read the Word. Keep giving thanks to God. Avoid murmuring and complaining. Rejoice always.
"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19.
Elijah thought it was over. But God wasn’t done with him. Hope is never lost when you’re following God. Don’t let one of life’s seasons become the summary of your life story. There is still work to be done. God isn’t finished with you. You can have a fresh start! Open your eyes and see, it is a new beginning. It is the start of a new season. It’s a new day! Refocus your mind, energy and goals. Take action. It’s not too late! You’re not too old. It’s not over!
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” ?1 Corinthians 15:58.
Life is a journey! Sometimes, the road is smooth, but most of the time it isn’t. Even a matured believer can lose sight of the prize in those difficult times. No matter what’s coming against you, refused to quit. There is a real cost and a sacrifice when we choose to follow Christ. Be focused. Don’t look back. Press on! Win the prize. Strive to end well.
"Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1.
PRAYER:
1. O LORD, renew my strength. Give me the grace to move forward, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I know You are working out Your plans for my life. Give me the grace to be patient in waiting and believing, in Jesus’ name.
3. Heavenly Father, help me to accomplish Your purposes for my life, in Jesus name.
4. Thank You Father for answering my prayers.
