Discouraged and wanting to give up?

Everyone has his or her rainy days in life, even the "christian elite" and those who seem in formidable. We can pretend to be strong on the outside, but deep within, everyone goes through moments of discouragement and desperation.

Even the great prophet Elijah was not spared. Remember in 1 Kins 19, how after a great victory, the prophet was running for his life, afraid of a woman and wanted to die. 

He just witnessed fire come down from heaven. This is only one of the four times, mentioned in the Bible, where fire came from heaven and this great prophet literally did the impossible. He killed all the false prophets and displayed such courage, unparalleled elsewhere.

Yet, when there was a threat on his own life, he fumbled and wished he was dead. 

I am sure it rings a bell for all of us. 

How often, when we face trials, challenges, disappointments, failures, reticule, slander, unjust treatment  and difficulties, we lose focus on God and our circumstances seem to overwhelm us. Simply because, we have shifted our eyes from the Lord and poised it towards the circumstances. The consequences:
  • Rejection
  • Despondency
  • Fear
  • Hopelessness
  • faithlessness
  • Suicidal
That's what exactly the prophet, the great man of God, went through, in a moment of indiscretion when his circumstances began to roll over him.

But God was good. He did not condemn. He did not chide not did He castigate. Instead the Lord offered him:
  • compassion
  • care
  • concern
  • counsel
  • cheer
  • New strategy
If you have been down trodden, hurt and discouraged and thinking of giving up, just remember, the loving, caring and compassionate savior is just decide you. Refocus on the Lord, seek his counsel, renew your faith and trust in the Lord, re-strategize and move on. 

The Holy Spirit is ready to strengthen us and enable us to move forward in our journey! Let's not give up but continue to keep our eyes fixed on Him who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and run our race with patience.

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