Getting to Where You Want to Be

1 Kings 19:1-5 ESV
“Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had killed the prophets. She sent a message to Elijah: “You killed my prophets. Now I’m going to kill you! I pray that the gods will punish me even more severely if I don’t do it by this time tomorrow.”

Elijah was afraid when he got her (Jezebel’s) message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there,  then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the Lord, “I’ve had enough. Just let me die! I’m no better off than my ancestors.” Then he lay down in the shade and fell asleep.”

Elijah had just encountered one of the greatest victories of his life on Mount Carmel. God had shown His mighty power in 1 Kings 18, but now Elijah was running for his life from an angry, evil woman.

When Elijah was so tired and so depressed, he asked God to take his life. But the rest of the story in chapter 19 states that God encouraged him. He cooked some food for him and brought him food and water twice to strengthen him for the 40 day journey in the wilderness. God was not done with Elijah, God had much, much more for Elijah to do and a greater victory and revelation was just ahead.

How many times do we give up when things get too hard? How many times do we get depressed and quit just before a greater victory? The things we have gone through, and the things that are going through now, and the things we will go through in the future, are just a time of testing, trials or persecutions.

These times of testing are not from God, but from the enemy. Sometimes testing can make us stronger. We learn a lot about ourselves in times of testing and trials. Keep going, keep pressing through, reach out to God, He has a perfect plan for you! Victory and blessings are just ahead. For Elijah a great revelation and anointing was just around the corner.

Prayer:
Lord: I pray for all my friends and family this morning that You will give them the strength to keep going. I pray that they will lean on You, trust in You, believe in You. I pray they will keep the course and run the race to greater victory.