Elijah 6/3/09

Good afternoon! It is a beautiful day, and I pray you are all having a wonderful time!

Today, we will discuss the other part of this Scripture...the good part!!!
God met Elijah in his discouragement at his most desperate hour! Let me repeat that...GOD MET Elijah in his discouragement at his most desperate hour! This is God's mercy at its best! Remember to refer back to the Scripture to refresh your memory! Let's see the ways Chuck Swindoll feels this is true:
1. God allowed Elijah a time of rest and refreshment
God didn't lay into Elijah with a thousand questions about why he would doubt. He didn't blame him or try to shame him. He didn't expect him to immediately jump back to his feet and get back to work. God told him to rest and provided a good meal for him. God knew that exhaustion could make Elijah believe a lie. He knew how important rest/food were to Elijah's body. The food was so amazing that it provided strength to Elijah for forty days and forty nights.
2. God communicated wisely with Elijah
Like I said before, God didn't begin his meeting with Elijah with a lecture. He simply asked him why he was there. Elijah replied to him in a whine that he believed to be true because of all he had been through. God knew he just needed to remind Elijah that He was still with him. He listened to Elijah. Then He asked Elijah to go out of the cave and stand before the Lord. God loved Elijah so much that He came to Elijah in a gentle blowing. Can you imagine how it feels to experience the God physically passing by you in a gentle blowing? God didn't make Himself known in the wind, earthquake or the fire. That's not the kind of God we serve. We serve a God that can come to us in a gentle blowing when our spirit is fragile. There are times when the wind, earthquake or fire may have worked for Elijah. However, this wasn't the time. Elijah needed God to be gentle. He needed God to love him, despite his frailty. Once God made Elijah aware of his presence, He reminded Elijah of the work that still needed to be done by him.
3. God gave Elijah a close, personal friend
Not only this, He also reminded Elijah that that there were still 7000 faithful servants that had not bowed to Baal. Elijah was not alone! God knew Elijah needed the knowledge of support to move beyond his depression. He reminded him of all the people that were depending on Elijah. God not only told him of this support, but He also gave him instruction to go anoint Elisha as a prophet. Elijah needed someone to be his companion, and God gave him Elisha. Elisha was not only a companion. He encouraged Elijah and ministered to him.

God has not designed us to live like hermits in a cave. He designed the church to be a source of encouragement for all of His Believers. If we didn't have others to encourage us, we could easily withdraw and begin living a life that was not effective to others. Elijah had to get his focus back on the Lord. Yet, the Lord didn't just sit back and wait on him to get his act together. He didn't leave him in Him. We just have to trust Him in the deepest part of our souls!!! Let's try to trust Him today and forever! That's all it takes!!!
Love to you all!!!
Tiffany