“It’s over. I’m done. Take me home.”

Have you ever poured yourself into some great effort?  For months you planned and prepared.  You stayed up late, ignored other responsibilities, focused on the one challenge. And then, the day came and now it’s over.  In those moments we are vulnerable to feeling a huge let-down, even if our efforts met success.  We can even slip into depression!  There’s a story in the Scripture that teaches us about meeting that discouragement.  Let it touch you today.

Elijah, God's faithful man in Israel, stood up to the evil couple that ruled, Ahab and Jezebel. They hated him for his righteousness and tried to kill him! God gave Elijah the dubious honor of announcing that Israel was facing a long drought.  Thousands of people would die. Naturally, the people hated Elijah. They focused their anger on him, not on the wickedness that brought the judgment of the Lord.  But the prophet remained faithful.  After three years of suffering, the Lord called a summit and the challenge was thrown down.   "Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” (1 Kings 18:20-24, NIV)

God answered Elijah’s prayer with fire from heaven. A spiritual renewal followed.  Rain came and the drought – in the land and spiritually in Israel – was lifted.  End of story, right?

Read on! After years of maximum effort and great faithfulness, Elijah’s emotions collapsed.  He ran off and, alone under a tree in the wilderness, he sighed, "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life." (1 Kings 19.4)  We catch a glimpse of the depth of his discouragement in his prayerful lament: "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." (1 Kings 19:10)

Can you identify with his heart?  God didn't kick him while he was down. God didn't say, "Well, what a weakling my prophet turned out to be. I'll just let him die and find someone else to do my work." The Lord showed up to restore Elijah. It's a dramatic scene! The mountain where Elijah was holed up was torn by a powerful wind, then shaken by an earthquake. After that, a blaze of fire swept the face of the mountain. The prophet discerned that God's Presence was not in the BIG, NOISY, and IMPRESSIVE displays! Then came a gentle whisper- God's revelation of Himself.  The Spirit reminded Elijah that he was not alone. "There are 7000 in Israel who have not joined the idol worshippers!"  God sent him to find Elisha and start to mentor him.

The Spirit whispers this Word to us: "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)  We must not trust our intelligence, plans, or preparations alone. We use those gifts, but our ultimate hope is in God. As people under the command of Another, we must be faithful and entrust the results to our Lord, who by the Spirit and truth of His eternal Word, will bring about His plans in His time.

Have you given your best and came up 'way short of what you hoped for in terms of results?
Does it seem that God has 'failed' you?  There is no sin in feeling disappointment or even in asking questions. But, if you do, make sure you listen for the answer. Likely God's answer to you will come in a quiet whisper that calls for you to wait out His purposes and to remember that you are NOT alone! Stay involved with those who love you and share your love of God.

And hear this Word that assures us that HE knows what's up, even when we do not. . . “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:25-26 -- The Message) 
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Hide Thou Me

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my life in vain.
I'm tempted then to murmur,
And of my lot complain.
But when I think of Jesus,
And all He's done for me,
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.

O Rock of Ages, hide Thou me.
No other refuge have I but Thee.
When life's dark vale I wander,
Far, far from Thee.
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.

Hide Thou Me
Thoro Harris © 1926. Renewed 1953 Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)CCLI License No. 810055