BE ENCOURAGED
Everybody, Christian or non-Christian will experience discouragement. A man of God named Elijah had obtained a tremendous victory. He had prayed and as aresult God caused fire to fall from heaven, which consumed the false prophets. Then, Jezebel threatened to kill him for what he had done.
How is it that a man of God who had defeated hundreds of false prophets is now intimidated by a person? The reason wasbecause he was tired. After having fought against the false prophets, he no longer had the strength to deal with one person.
What are the signs that indicate someone is discouraged? The first sign is isolation. When someone is tired or fed up because of the problems the first thing they want to do is run away. Then they become inactive and they do not want to serve anymore. Lastly, the person gets to a point of wanting to die.
The Bible says, “Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT).
The solution will never be to be disconnected from God or church. The solution will always be to rest, get up, and eat.
We need to get to know ourselves and realize when it is time to rest or else we are going to burn out. It is normal for all of us to go through discouragement, but we cannot let ourselves fall into depression and then stop being used by God.
We get depressed when we do not rest, then we don’t have the strength to get up and eat. We need to take responsibility for our own lives and know when it’s time to rest and not ignore it.
I encourage you to take time to rest today, whether this means you need to go for a walk, read a book, take a nap, or do whatever it is that produces spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical rest, do it. There is a long journey ahead of you, and you are going to need the Lord’s grace to move forward. Stay encouraged.
Think about it:
Have you seen one of the signs that we just mentioned in your life?
How can you recover strength today?