Feeling Alone and Defeated? Encouragement
We all have times where we feel overwhelmed with the different things that life can deal out. God never promised that our lives would suddenly be easy once we accepted Jesus as our Savior. He did, however, promise to be with us through all of it. I'm so thankful for that.
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:2
All those who walked with God (as recorded in the scriptures,) had times where they felt defeated. The account of Elijah standing against the prophets of Ba'al,"- Ahab, and Jezebel,- is one of my favorite "faith," accounts because Elijah fled even after seeing the power of God. He felt alone and defeated (as you'll see in the passages shared below) Yet God taught him one of the most powerful lessons through it.
The account is much greater than the passages shared alone here, but in an effot to keep this from becoming too long, I'll start here:
"And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" 1 Kings 18:17
"And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim." 1 Kings 18:18
Not only did Elijah stand before Ahab, he challenged Ahab to call all of the people to Mount Caramel and told Ahab to also bring 450 of his own prophets, (of Ba'al,) so that God would prove that He is the only True God in the presence of the people of Israel.
So Elijah stands before the people of Israel, against all these false prophets and King Ahab, and he makes the point to the people that they would see who the real God is because he wanted the people of Israel to acknowledge the only true God.
Elijah challenged the false prophets and tells them to "call on their god," to answer by fire, so the people would see that the false prophets were following a false god, and the True God answers.
The people even responded, "What you say is good."
So the false prophets called on their false god ba'al from morning until noon they even danced around the alter thinking that all the commotion would help them.
It always makes me smile when I read what Elijah said to those false prophets after all the hours they spent calling on their false god, and dancing while getting no response.
"And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked."1 Kings 18:27
So when it came to Elijah calling on the true God to answer with fire, he even had the people pour water on the wood, not once, not twice, but three times until the water filled the trenches.
And then he prayed:
“Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
God answered in a mighty way. Not only did the offering burn, but the wood, the stone, and the soil burned up, and all the water that had been poured over the offering was "licked up," by the fire.
"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”1 Kings 18:39
Next, Elijah had all of the false prophets seized and they were all put to death, and Elijah climbs to the top of Mount Carmel, and he prays for rain.
Seven times Elijah sent a servant out to look for a cloud before one was finally spotted. Elijah just kept praying, he didn't give up.
We should pray like Elijah did that day.
In the very next chapter of 1 Kings, ch. 19, after all that had just been witnesses and demonstrated by God, Elijah fled to the Bersheeba. Elijah felt defeated he was afraid for his life after Ahab and Jezebel sent word that they were going to have Elijah killed. (1 Kings 19:3)
But Elijah knew that his faith was not good at that moment. He sat under a bush in the wilderness and he prayed that God would take his life. Because he had fled in fear, Elijah said in his prayer,
"I have had enough Lord, I am no better than my ancesters." Vs. 4.
He lay down under the bush and fell asleep. An angel awoke him and he looked around, and there by his head was bread and water.
Elijah traveled forty days and nights until he reached Mount Horeb, where he entered into a cave to spend the night.
Elijah thought that he was the only prophet left. And God told him to go out on the mountain because the Lord was going to pass by. (vs. 11)
Next, a powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
Then, the earth quaked.
But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
Then, there was fire!
But the Lord was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a "a gentle whisper," "a still small voice." (Vs. 12)
And Elijah went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
God asked Elijah, "what are you doing here?"
"And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." 1 Kings 19:14
God sent Elijah back the way he came, instructed Elijah to anniont a few others along the way, and then told him, "I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, whose knees have not bowed to Ba'al." Elijah wasn't the only one left.
(I encourage anyone who reads this to read both of the complete chapters, 1 Kings ch. 18, and ch. 19.)
God already had a plan for him, and Elijah had seen the mighty works that God did before he fled for his life.
Still, even Elijah was shaken, but God didn't leave him that way. God came and, once again demonstrated His power through a mighty wind, an earthquake and fire. But the power demonstrated was not God, but a display of God's power. God himself spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.
Just because God seems to be silent at times, it doesn't mean that He is not in our trials with us.
So when we are feeling defeated, and when it seems that we are all alone, when we're looking for the power of God as assurance that He is with us, what we should all be listening for is that still small voice.
Saying a little prayer for you my Sister, thank you for what you do here...
Thank you angels, you're so sweet. God bless you!
Great post @livingwaters. Upvoted and RESTEEMED! :]
Thank you msg. That's much appreciated.
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Thank you for sharing, I hope you have a more encouraging day tomorrow
jpederson, I hope so too. I've been thinking about Joshua today, and I'm praying that the Lord will guide me in sharing some things on him.
God bless you.
The Bible is a marvelous source of inspiration.
Amen, @jpederson96
No matter what book we open, there's encouragement everywhere in God's word.
A good passage and encouraging words. Yes after God has used us we can be vulnerable and we should hide away with him .
Amen simonleach, I was thinking about that today too! Also how God keeps us humble. The minute I think that I'm doing well, I get lowered a few levels. He knows our hearts and I personally believe that he knows our hearts better than we do.
God bless you simonleach.
Amazing post dear @livingwaters this is the part we should keep within us: when we are feeling defeated, and when it seems that we are all alone, when we're looking for the power of God as assurance that He is with us, what we should all be listening for is that still small voice.
I just shared something, you can enjoy it too. Thank you dear sister!
Thank you pastorlea, I read, and enjoyed one of your articles today.
amennnnnnnnnn
Being with God is the defining and pivotal element of my life. Thanks for sharing your study on Elijah.
Amen joechiappetta. "Being still," for me is something I still have a hard time doing. God bless you!
Elijah standing against the prophets of Ba'al, and then running off after Jezebel threatens him and hearing from the Lord is one my favorite faith accounts too. It's such an amazing and inspiring story, and I always find it interesting that Jesus was transfigured while meeting Moses and Elijah on a mountain, since of course Moses received the law on a mountain, and saw the Promised Land from one, and Elijah defeated idol worship on a mountain. The story of Ahab and Jezebel and their evil is very instructive too in its own way, especially in how they oppose the Lord and His prophets. Not that the Lord doesn't provide us with light throughout His whole Word, but in some places the light is even brighter, and that's one place in His Word that it is.
I've thought the same about Moses and Elijah. It's really interesting going into all of the mentions of Elijah throughout the bible. Also, the "two witnesses" in Revelations.
1 Kings 21, reveals a whole lot about both the characters of Ahab and Jezebel. There are a lot of really great accounts in the OT that we don't hear about very often. Before I started reading and studying, I thought the television movie, "Moses," was very close to the actual account. But when I finally read it, the movie was a lot different in a lot of ways, and the biblical account was even more amazing than the movie depicted. It's sort of like the "Garden of Eden," I'd always thought that the whole earth was the garden. But when I read it I was amazed to learn that it wasn't. The earth was "Eden," and the garden was planted "East of Eden." It's amazing how simple that is, and it just never occurred to me until I read it. The book of numbers is also one of my favorites. Once I got through all of the numbers, tribes, names. and locations, (which go on for chapter after chapter) I almost couldn't put it down.
I'm off to get some sleep. God bless you.
Me too actually. Your reply was interesting so I'll have to get to it tomorrow. God bless you too.
I've never looked for all the mentions of Elijah in the Bible but will try to remember to do that. Do you think he's one of the two witnesses? With Revelation so many things often fit. I read somewhere that someone thought the two witnesses were the Old and New Testaments. And of course many people have suggested other people and things too.
Yes, the OT is amazing. It really speaks to a person's spirit. It's hard to put it into more words than that, too. The Creation account, and the account of man's fall, are just full of so many amazing things. We could study that our whole lives, I'm sure. I'm always amazed by that flaming sword put there to guard the Tree of Life for the time being, it would seem, until the redemption of our bodies. I've never heard anything preached about it or read anything about it, but thinking about it, perhaps it's God's justice? And that it's a sword, it's His Word? I also found so much to be interesting in the book of Numbers, after as you say getting past the numbering of the tribes. Especially of course the story of Balaam! That's such a powerful story, particularly where his donkey keeps seeing the angel of the Lord, but he can't because he defied Him.
It's so sad how many people don't know anything of the Bible, really, and they go through life looking for answers, contentment and help, and the world has them trying everything else. So sad too that many people can read the Bible and go "meh."
Well, I'm going to hopefully get writing now. I spent some time today learning a bit more about Bittrex and Coinbase, and I'm also trying to disengage a bit from surfing Steemit, if you know what I'm talking about - from Christian trail to Steemdb to my replies to my wallet to reading people's posts and then checking their blogs, to my feed, and on and on. It's been good to do that, I think, because that way I've gotten to know it, but it's not as productive. I have so many things started for Steemit and for outside of it as well, and I know I can do more, and have, than publish one post a day! Not that I won't be checking in here a lot still, but I need to discipline myself so I'm not checking this or that the minute I hit a little writer's block. I haven't gotten to Steemit.chat either more than one time when I did for a few minutes. I didn't see many people posting there but I'd give it a try again sometime. Is it in Christian links where people from Christian trail tend to chat?
I was so caught up with Elijah's story and commenting about it, too, that I forgot I wanted to say this was a very good article about relying on the Lord and not being discouraged when things are difficult. Thanks for sharing it, livingwaters!
Thank you doule, With the two witnesses, I honestly don't know. I've never heard of the NT/OT idea, but the study of Elijah throughout the bible makes me sort of lean in that direction. Still. Revelations is (in my view,) the most in-depth book to study, and it ties to everything else in the bible. I've checked out some different websites and videos over the years that go into Rev, and every one of them has different ideas and different takes on how everything will play out. I have sort of come to the conclusion, that I'll study it and know what it says while trying not to draw my own ideas or conclusions. But knowing what it says, we'll certainly know what's happening when it happens.
I like the story of Balaam and his donkey too. Most people would take off running if an animal started talking to them, but Balaam had a little conversation with him.
In steemit chat, you can click on a person's name and have a private conversation. You can even leave messages for people who aren't on at the same time. You'll see a little indicator at the top of the page that shows if you have a message or not. right on the tab that says, "steemit chat." I don't usually chat in the general chat room, but I do check the links and read a lot of them. You can also type in a person's nickname in the search option, to open a private chat and leave a message for that person.
I have company coming this next week, so I won't be on much, other than early in the mornings. My mom and other family members will be here. Eight guests. lol It's going to be a busy week.
Yes, Revelation is a difficult book, like I know Daniel and Ezekiel are said to be too. It's interesting how Christians who believe the Bible interpret the rest of the Bible with a great deal of agreement, but not when it comes to those books. I once read a very good booklet on Revelation from Scripture Press, I believe. It was a Sunday School book, and it went through the major interpretations of Revelation, and the background of things like the city of Laodicea. I found that very helpful. I see how people interpret different things in it in different ways, and I suppose this was God's Will as He seems to have left this book open to different interpretations.
Thank you for the information about Steemit Chat, too.
And wow, eight guests is a lot! I hope you have a very good visit with your mom and other family members.
I messaged you on Chat.
I'm sorry doule! I've been working on a guest room that I normally use for storage. If you're on now, I'm in the chat.
Great article. It was an encouragement to me.
1 Kings 18:17-18 - this is how I feel.
Hi pretradition, I haven't seen you in a while. I want to ask you why you feel that way, but I think I already know. I'm not 100% sure but pretty sure.
It's late, and I've got an early day tomorrow. I'm off to get some sleep, and without going into debate right now I'll close with that.
Prayers.
No debate, just letting you know that I found your work encouraging. I can relate to much of what you wrote, in some way at least. As you can imagine, it can be tough and even lonely, but I know that I am not alone.