Discouraged?

"Discouraged?"

Daniel Courington

There's an old fable that says the Devil once held a sale and offered all the tools of his trade to anyone who would pay their price. They were spread out on the table and each one labeled. Hatred, malice, envy, despair, sickness, sensuality- all of the weapons that everyone knows so well- were for sale. But off to one side lay a harmless looking wood-shaped instrument marked "discouragement". It was old and worn looking but it was priced far above all the rest. When asked the reason why, the Devil replied, "Because I can use this one so much more easily than the others. No one knows that it belongs to me, so with it I can open doors that are tightly bolted against the others. Once I get inside I can use any tool that suits me best."

I regularly remind myself of the story of Elijah. Elijah was frustrated and discouraged because of the state of Israel. He believed himself to be the only righteous soul left in Israel until God takes him up to Mount Horeb and tells him he has 7,000 souls who hadn't bowed down to Baal. How did he tell him this? It wasn't in a great battle or in a great whirlwind but it was in silence with God.

1Ki 19:10-13 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." (11) And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (12) And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (13) And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah was called the prophet of Fire because he was used to calling down fire from heaven and performing great feats through the power of God. Elijah got so caught up with creating massive revival that he failed to see that the revival had to start with him. We often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and trying to solve the world's problems, that we forsake spending dedicated time with God. It is absolutely necessary that we don't just seek God in the whirlwinds of life but we set aside time for silence, for deep and concentrated talks with God.

Discouragement had led Elijah to the point of giving up. Discouragement had led Elijah to over-exaggerate how bad things really were. Discouragement had led Elijah to lose his enthusiasm for serving God. Dicouragement had led Elijah to feel like he was all alone. Overcoming spiritual discouragement has only one simple recipe. The same recipe used on Mt. Horeb:

Humble Pie

Infinite parts God's Will

Zero Parts My Will

Stir until well combined. Serve daily

When one knows God and knows his absolute presence in their life, discouragement turns to hope and hope turns to faith. Dedicate some quiet time for God this week!