Wednesday: Too Tired to Run
Elijah is too tired to run anymore. And so, he prays again. This prayer is very different from the faith-filled prayer that God answered on Mount Carmel ( 1 Kings 18.36-37) in front of the priests and prophets of Baal, the members of the court, and the common people. This is a simple, short prayer of desperation.
In 1 Kings 19:4, Elijah states that he is no better than his fathers. What was he talking about?
When Elijah finally is still, guilt comes crushing in on him. He realizes that his quick exit has hijacked what could have been a great opportunity for reformation in Israel. He realizes that he has disappointed those who needed him. And he’s powerless to do anything about it. Thus, in a painful moment of self-reflection, knowing full well the history of his people, he sees himself for what he really is.
Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com
That can be a painful revelation for anyone of us, can’t it — that is, seeing ourselves for what we really are? How grateful we should be for the promise that, sinful as our lives have been, in Christ God will see us as He sees Jesus. What more hope can we have than that, by faith, we can claim for ourselves the righteousness of Christ? (See Philippians 3:9.)
Nevertheless, depression has a way of sucking us into a dark whirlpool of self-loathing. And sometimes we begin to think that death is the only way out.
This seems to be the case for Elijah. It’s all too much for him. He says, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!“ (1 Kings 19:4).
The good news is that the great Healer doesn’t condemn Elijah. God understands better than we do what we are up against as we fight depression.
“We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.” — Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 97.
God knows and understands that “the journey is too much” (1 Kings 19:7) for us, but sometimes He has to wait until we stop running. Then He can intervene.
Sometimes people who are drowning become so confused that they will fight a lifeguard off. The lifeguard then has to back off and wait to perform a rescue until the victim actually becomes unconscious.
| What hopes and comfort can you find from the following texts: Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:1-3, Psalm 73:26, Isaiah 53:4-6? |
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I really enjoy the Sabbath school lessons it’s very refreshing and very informative thank you Sabbath schoolb
How often do we have an elating successful experience only to suffer from deflation and uncertainty? I received news that my PhD thesis had been passed and I could graduate. Then I had to mark my students examination papers! Oh, dear; and I thought, "What is the use of it all?"
Do we also suffer spiritual highs and lows? Of course we do. Many years ago, when I was living in Melbourne, Australia we had a great revival among the Adventist young people in that city. They were involved in "Street Preaching". They had Wednesday night prayer meetings, and Friday night vespers. Sabbath afternoons were spent in bible study. Everyone was jumping on the revival bandwagon, claiming that the latter rain was falling on our young people. Having a boring cynical scientific mind, I thought to myself, this is not going to last; it is going to end with a lot of spiritual bloodshed. And it did! Essentially the young people wore themselves out being on a spiritual high all the time. When their prayers for what they thought should happen were not answered in way they perceived they were left confused and disillusioned.
I like the story of Elijah. I particularly like the bit where after the high and the low, he finds himself exhausted and God puts on a spectacular display. But God wasn't in the big show. He came to Elijah in a quiet small voice, and it was in that quiet reflective time a strategy was developed that would be a guide for the rest of his life of service.
God knew Elijah’s heart and restored his strength before asking him to go out again; my focus for this lesson’s account - God provides all needed means for overcoming discouragement in times of self-doubt or decreasing faith.
Pricilla Beaman shared a unique insight in Tuesday’s lesson to which I want to add my thoughts.
1Kings19:4 - “… It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” With this statement, Elijah could have referred to himself as a prophet among his ‘prophet’-fathers who Israel attempted to kill or silence for a long time.
I see this event not as ‘too tired to run’, but rather as a cry of utter exhaustion, disappointment, thinking himself to be ineffective. After having faithfully done all he had been commanded, hoping the victory would turn people from their wicked ways, he finds the enemies of God still working against Him as they seek to kill His spokesperson. Elijah might have considered to have failed God!
Do we find ourselves at times exhausted from doing steadfastly, faithfully the Will of God but not seeing enough evidence of the progress being made and therefore becoming discouraged?
Psalm 73:26KJV –“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength[rock] of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Too Tired to Run
The thing about human mind, it is unreadable and unpredictable. We sing a song that says 'when you try everything and everything doesn't work, try Jesus.' But what is totally wrong with that song? Why dont we try Jesus 1st? Do we try Jesus 1st in all of our business in life? Do we go to the bible, or pray or speak to Jesus about our situations in life and ask him what he thinks? Do we give up our will for his will?
Some go to church only when their is a problem in their life, they come and ask for prayers, the Lord answers, then you see them back when their is another problem again.
Some go to church only when things are looking well and they are comfortable. They gave their testimonies about the love of Jesus. In trouble they leave the ship.
Like Elijah, many of us have seen the mighty hands of the Lord working in our/families lives yet we question the Lord when things happen that we dont like. We go so far as wanting to die before facing those uncomfortable situations. Isn't the Lord looking for men an women who can stand as watchmen on the walls. Light bearers.
The sun hot, the rain falling, the snow falling, out vehicles not working, the spouse giving problems, the children are unreasonable or acting up, the church members are unreasonable, etc, we stop home, or stop coming to church because its the other people who cause me not to, its their problems. He probably was thinking, it was Ahab and Jezebel who cause him to run.
Do we see ourselves for what we really are?
Hmmmm! This is very deep. Thanks Lyn Lew for sharing your thought.
Whatever Elijah was referring to concerning his fathers, he was discouraged, and overcome with a great disappointment that for a time took his hold off of the Lord and he felt himself without help in a crisis. Just a short time before he had witnessed the power of God showing all of Israel that He was the only true God. Weary and bewildered, the formerly fearless prophet fled from the angry Jezebel to save his own life. We might look back after the fact and wonder how Elijah could have forgotten so quickly, but only if there ourselves could we discover how we would have reacted under the same circumstances. However, very trying circumstances are soon to come and each will realize where they stand.
Any amount of comfort we gain from God's promises will be according to our faith, or unbelief. If we give way to feelings, faith will fail.
What resonated with me in this account, was Elijah got scared and took off running, God was always with him. "interestingly" he dropped his servant off and ran alone. I wonder why? Did his servant ask him why are we running after such powerful demonstration by God?
Even though Jezabel didn't know where Elijah ran to GOD never left Elijah's side. I'm reminded of Psalms 139:8. There is nowhere we can run to and get away from God. So even in our weakest moments we can take assurance that God will never leave us. Even when we go contrary to his will he by our side. He will feed us, and comfort us.
“We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.” — Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 97.
I have also found the following texts very comforting.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
The Good News: When you’re struggling with depression, it can be difficult to understand why you’re feeling certain emotions. This verse reminds you that the way forward is by trusting the Lord to provide guidance. Things will look up.
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”
The Good News: Depression and anxiety can be isolating experiences. But Jesus is there, and He cares about you. You can turn to Him for help with whatever you may be feeling.
Today's lesson states "...How grateful we should be for the promise that, sinful as our lives have been, in Christ God will see us as He sees Jesus. What more hope can we have than that, by faith, we can claim for ourselves the righteousness of Christ? (See Philippians 3:9)
I have absolutely no problem with God seeing me - exactly as I am. I actually want God to see me completely. Why? Because I know that while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at my heart. He knows all my struggles and my failures. And when God sees all of me, He does so with "compassion...love...and pitying tenderness".
'The righteousness of Christ' is not some screen or filter that somehow blocks God from seeing who and what I actually am. Rather, it is a description of the process by which I am actually progressively redeemed and restored ever closer back to what God intended me to be in the first place - and what He passionately desires that I will be one day through co-operating with Him.
Knowing and believing this, I can truly rest in God's presence - especially when I have slipped up or become fatigued and a bit disheartened. I can rest because I'm not trying to keep anything hidden from God (Psalm 139:23-24).
Phil - thank you! I always rejoice when reading your clear, easy to grasp depiction of the greatest Truth of all - the unwavering Love of the Creator for His Creation - He can do no other!
The Father made a covenant with his Son before the foundation of the world to redeem us if we should fall for the lies of the Adversary. It was on the basis of this covenant that the promise was made in Genesis 3:15 and it is the sure foundation of our election (1 Peter 1:17-21; Ephesians 1:3-6).
When God acts on the basis of this covenant, his righteousness is displayed because he is honouring his promise. When we identify (become one) with Jesus our Messiah by faith in his role in this covenant, we are righteous.
It is through becoming one with Jesus in the process of this covenant, that God accomplishes his work of our recreation in his image. In this work, both he and we are righteous.
Just a thought.
Richard - you ended your comment with - "Just a thought". Yes, all our contributions to this blog are the expressions of our thoughts and I very much appreciate that you shared yours.
I share your though that "in this work, both he and we are righteous", and on this platform, I want to add the impression that our personal lives are the canvas on which God expresses Himself, re-creating the living[loving] soul after His Image.
I am puzzled by the authors claim that Elijah was weighted down with guilt . Where is the proof ? My Sabbath school group argue the guilt was caused by his running from Jezebel . If that is true Paul should have had guilt. He fled Damascus, and Jerusalem when Jews plotted to kill him. What of Jesus going through the crowd which wanted to throw Him off a cliff.? Isn’t better to say that Elijah was in the valley after his mountain top experience, deep depression?