When There Is Discouragement - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and in detail how he had slain all the prophets with the sword And [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a certain broom-bush, and requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough: now, Jehovah, take my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1 Kings 19:1, 4 JND

When There Is Discouragement
After Elijah had a mighty victory for the Lord at Carmel, Queen Jezebel threatened him with execution and he, discouraged and disheartened, ran away to a desolate place. He sat under the broom-bush and asked God to take his life. We may be surprised that a man of God could have such an illustrious career of service and then suddenly be plunged into such a state of discouragement and soul weariness; but this is what can happen to us if we take our eyes off the Lord and focus instead on the situation around us!

It appears that when Elijah momentarily took his eyes off of God, he first tried to run away from his troubles, then sat down and gave up! This is a sad state for any child of God to be in, and yet how often when trial and challenge come do we find ourselves in just such a place of discouragement and self-pity. We should not be surprised when our adversary, Satan, and his demons, seek to use discouragement to block the gospel and destroy our testimony.

We too can become weary and ready to give up when we become absorbed with our problems. We may begin to think that God can no longer use us or that He is setting us aside. But God does not cast His obedient servants aside when they fail! We see, in Elijah's case that God sent His angel to provide just what he needed to get ready for the work that still lay ahead of him. This same gracious God, who did not cast Elijah aside, but strengthened him, will strengthen and encourage us too!

-- S. J. Faulkner