2022-03-03
Psalm 3:3 NKJV
When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: (1) Spend more time with God. “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord” (1 Kings 19:11 NKJV). That was where God spoke to him in “a still small voice” (v. 12 NKJV). The word “still” teaches us that instead of always working for God, we need to spend time with Him. If you don’t, you will run on empty, and get nowhere. When David was feeling down, he wrote: “Many are saying… ‘God won’t rescue him.’ But, Lord, you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage. I will pray to the Lord and he will answer me” (Psalm 3:2-4 NCV).
(2) Stop trying to do it all yourself. That’s the fast route to depression. Leadership isn’t just about getting the job done; it’s about developing others and getting it done through them. Elijah wasn’t alone. God told him, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel… whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18 NKJV). Don’t just operate – learn to cooperate!
(3) Realize your assignment isn’t over. God showed Elijah there were still kings to anoint, battles to win, and a successor to be prepared (See v. 16). Need a reason to get out of bed in the morning? God will give you one! When you’re “down,” He doesn’t get mad at you. On the contrary, His Word says, “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning flame. He will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair” (Isaiah 42:3 TLB). That’s the loving-kindness of God!
Soul food: Exo 16-18; Luke 12:49-59; Ps 70; Pro 6:26-28
Psalm 3:4 NLV
Toe Elia op sy laagste punt was, het God vir hom hierdie drie belangrike dinge gesê: 1) Bring meer tyd met God deur. ‘Kom buitekant toe en gaan staan voor My op die berg…’ (1 Konings 19:11 NLV). Ons moet nie net altyd vir God werk nie, ons moet ook tyd saam met Hom deurbring. As jy dit nie doen nie, sal jou tenk leegraak en sal jy nêrens kom nie. Toe Dawid mismoedig gevoel het, het hy geskryf: ‘So baie sê: ‘God sal hom nooit red nie!’ Maar U, Here, is ‘n skild rondom my. U herstel my eer, U lig my kop weer op. Ek het tot die Here geroep. Vanaf sy heilige berg het Hy geantwoord’ (Psalm 3:3-5 NLV).
2) Hou op om dit alles self te probeer doen. Dis die vinnigste roete tot depressie. Leierskap gaan nie net daaroor om die werk gedoen te kry nie; dit gaan daaroor om ander mense te ontwikkel en dit deur hulle gedoen te kry. Elia was nie alleen nie. God het vir hom gesê: ‘Nogtans sal Ek 7 000 in Israel laat oorbly, hulle wat nie voor Baäl gebuig en hom vereer het nie’ (1 Konings 19:18 NLV).
) Besef dat jou opdrag nie verby is nie. God het vir Elia gewys dat daar nog konings was om te salf, oorloë om te wen, en ‘n opvolger om op te lei (sien vers 16).
Wanneer jy mismoedig is, raak God nie kwaad vir jou nie. Inteendeel, sy Woord sê: ‘Hy sal ‘n geknakte riet nie verder afbreek nie. Mense wat dof brand soos ‘n lamppit sal hy nie uitdoof nie. Hy sal in opregtheid reg laat geskied’ (Jesaja 42:3 NLV). Dit is die liefdevolle goedhartigheid van God!
Sielskos: Eks 16-18; Luk 12:49-59; Ps 70; Spr 6:26-28
2022-03-02
James 5:17 CEV
Right after his greatest victory, Elijah became so depressed that he reach his breaking point and asked God to take his life (see 1 Kings 9:4). He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. And it happened very quickly. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (see 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman: Jezebel.
We can often find that exhaustion takes the place of faith. It can distort our thinking and make us forget God’s power and His promises. Mental fatigue combined with physical exhaustion is a draining combination that can bring hopelessness and create the illusion that we have no options.
Fear made Elijah isolate himself. Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he went into the wilderness and told God, ‘I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me’ (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). When we’ve reached our breaking point, it isn’t the time to isolate ourselves. It’s a time when we need to reach out for God and the people who love us and can help us get back up. Even Paul needed help. After writing, ‘[In] Macedonia, we…found trouble all around us…fighting on the outside and fear on the inside,’ he added, ‘But God, who comforts those who are troubled, comforted us when Titus came’ (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NCV).
When we’re approaching our breaking point, let’s try and remember to reach out to our encouragers, and most importantly, to God.
Exo 13-15; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Pro 6:23-25
Jakobus 5:17 NLV
Elia het so mismoedig geraak dat hy gereed was om dit alles te beëindig. Dit was op die hakke van sy grootste oorwinning. Hy het pas vuur uit die hemel op die Karmelberg neergeroep, toe hy van opgewondenheid tot uitputting gegaan het. Ons vergeet dat selfs wanneer ons suksesvol is en lief is vir dit wat ons doen, dit fisies, geestelik en emosioneel dreinerend kan wees. As jy dus ‘n doelgedrewe mens sonder grense is, let op!
1) Uitputting het Elia perspektief laat verloor. Hy het pas 850 vals profete oorwin (sien 1 Konings 18:19), en nou moes hy vir Jesebel vlug. Wanneer moegheid instap, stap geloof uit! Dit verdraai ons denke en veroorsaak dat ons God se krag en beloftes miskyk. Geestelike uitputting tesame met fisiese moegheid, is ‘n dodelike kombinasie wat hopeloosheid binne nooi en die illusie skep dat ons geen opsies het nie.
2) Vrees het veroorsaak dat Elia homself isoleer. Hy het sy dienskneg in Berseba agtergelaat, die woestyn binnegegaan en vir God gesê: ‘…Net ek alleen het oorgebly, en nou probeer hulle my ook doodmaak’ (1 Konings 19:10 NLV). Op daardie oomblik was Elia in die slegste geselskap moontlik – sy eie! Wanneer jy mismoedig voel, is dit nie die tyd om jouself te isoleer nie. Dis dan wanneer dit nodig is om na God en die mense wat lief is vir jou, uit te reik.
Selfs Paulus het hulp nodig gehad. Hy het geskryf: ‘Want toe ons in Masedonië aangekom het, het ons net nie tot rus gekom nie. Op elke moontlike manier is daar druk op ons uitgeoefen: van buite – aanvalle; van binne – vrese. God wat die vernederdes bystaan, het ons ook ondersteun deur die teenwoordigheid van Titus’ (2 Korintiërs 7:5-6 NLV).
Wie moet jy dus skakel? Na wie moet jy uitreik? Moenie dit uitstel nie – reik uit na God!
Sielskos: Eks 13-15; Luk 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Spr 6:23-25
James 5:17 CEV
Elijah got so “down” that he was ready to end it all. And it happened on the heels of his greatest victory. He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. So, if you’re a purpose-driven person with no boundaries, pay attention!
(1) Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (See 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman: Jezebel. General George Patton Jr. said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” When fatigue walks in, faith walks out! It distorts our thinking and makes us overlook God’s power and His promises. Mental fatigue coupled with physical exhaustion is a deadly combination that invites hopelessness and creates the illusion that we have no options.
(2) Fear made Elijah isolate himself. Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he went into the wilderness and told God, “I am the only one left… now they are trying to kill me” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). At that moment, Elijah was in the worst possible company – his own! When you feel down, that isn’t the time to isolate yourself. That’s when you need to reach for God and the people who love you and can help you get back up. Even Paul needed help. After writing, “[In] Macedonia, we… found trouble all around us… fighting on the outside and fear on the inside,” he added, “But God, who comforts those who are troubled, comforted us when Titus came” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NCV).
So, who do you need to call? Who do you need to reach for? Don’t keep putting it off – do it!
Soul food: Exo 13-15; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Pro 6:23-25
