How does God respond to my discouragement?

The story of Elijah is one of the most fascinating in all of Scripture. In this post, I explain Elijah’s drive and Elijah’s discouragement. He is one of the most driven leaders in the Bible, but he is known for his battle with discouragement. I conclude by exploring the following question in light of the gospel: “How does God respond to my discouragement?”

Elijah’s Drive

We’re introduced to him in 1 Kings 17 as a prophet of Yahweh. He prophecies to the wicked king of Israel named Ahab. He says, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!” (v. 1). The famine comes as a result of Ahab’s evil.

Despite the famine, God provides for Elijah. First, he goes to the brook of Cherith where ravens bring him bread and meat (v. 6). He drinks from the brook until the famine dries it up (v. 7). Then, God calls Elijah to visit a widow in Zarephath (v. 8). He asks the widow for some water and bread (vv. 10-11). But the widow says, “As the LORD your God lives, I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die” (v. 12).

The desperation in the widow’s voice is apparent. Like Elijah, she and her son are suffering from the consequences of King Ahab’s disobedience. But Elijah makes a promise to the widow and her son: “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the surface of the land’” (vv. 13-14).

Not only does God provide for Elijah, but He provides for the widow and her son. God works a miracle through the prophet Elijah. The flour jar and oil jug stay filled when they should be empty.

Before long, the widow’s son gets sick and dies (v. 17). Elijah carries him to an upstairs room and lays him on his bed. Then, Elijah cries out to God, asking Him why He has brought tragedy on the widow (v. 20). But God is about to perform another miracle through the prophet Elijah. The Bible says Elijah stretches himself out over the boy three times and prays, “LORD my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” (v. 21). And the boy comes back to life! The widow responds, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true” (v. 24).

Meanwhile, the famine in Israel gets worse. And God tells Elijah to visit Ahab and tell him that rain is coming (18:1). While Elijah travels, Ahab’s servant Obadiah runs into him (v. 7). The Bible describes Obadiah as a God-fearing man who hid God’s people in caves to provide for them during the persecution by Ahab and his evil wife, Jezebel (vv. 3-4). Elijah tells Obadiah that he is about to present himself before Ahab (v. 15). The encounter goes like this: “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, the one ruining Israel?’ He replied, ‘I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the LORD’s commands and followed the Baals’” (vv. 17-18). King Ahab is so deceived by his own wickedness that he blames Elijah for the famine.

Then, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel (v. 19). The people of Israel are divided in their devotion between Yahweh and the false god named Baal. Elijah says it’s time for them to choose one or the other (v. 21).

That’s why Elijah, the prophet of God, challenges the prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel. He says, “Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers with fire, he is God” (vv. 23-24).

The people agree, and the showdown begins. The prophets of Baal spend hours trying to get Baal to respond to their sacrifice. But he never does (v. 29). Then, Elijah prepares an altar with 12 stones for each of the sons of Jacob (v. 31). He digs a trench around the altar large enough to hold 4 gallons of water (v. 32). He arranges the wood and places the bull on it (v. 33). Then, he has the people pour 4 pots of water on the sacrifice until the trench is full. Elijah prays, “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back” (vv. 36-37).

That’s when fire from the LORD falls and consumes not just the offering but the wood, the stones, dust, and even the water (v. 38). In response, all the people fall down and proclaim, “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!” (v. 39). The prophets of Baal are slaughtered (v. 40). And Elijah tells Ahab that it’s about to storm (v. 41). Rain is coming!

Elijah’s Discouragement

Life has been good for Elijah. Yahweh has revealed His power to a rebellious people through the miracles of Elijah. But after his drive, he experiences discouragement. This is a common experience in life and even ministry.

In 19:1-2, Elijah’s life is threatened by Ahab’s evil wife, Jezebel. She sends a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them [the dead prophets] by this time tomorrow!”

Elijah is afraid and runs for his life. He goes into the wilderness and sits under a broom tree (see the picture above). That’s when he prays to the LORD that he might die (vv. 3-4). He says, “I have had enough! LORD, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”

Despite the faithfulness of God in Elijah’s life and ministry, Elijah finds himself in the lowest of places. It’s a good reminder to us of Elijah’s humanity. He is an imperfect person like me and you. But God meets Elijah in his discouragement, and He does the same for us. Let’s look at the rest of 1 Kings 19.

How does God respond to my discouragement?

Elijah falls asleep after asking God to take his life (v. 5). Then, an angel touches him and tells him to get up and eat (v. 6).

The provision of God sustains you.

When Elijah wakes up, he sees a loaf of baked bread and a jug of water. After eating and drinking, he lays back down (v. 6). The angel comes back and tells him to get up and eat or else he won’t have the strength to continue the journey (v. 7). The Bible says, “So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. He entered a cave there and spent the night” (vv. 8-9a).

When you’re discouraged, remember how God takes care of you. The breath in your lungs is a gift from Him. The strength in your bones is a gift from Him. The food you eat and the water you drink come from Him. The shelter over your head, the clothes on your back, and the shoes on your feet are from God.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

In Matthew 6, Jesus says not to worry about anything. If God cares for the birds of the air and the grass of the field, then He definitely cares about you! Jesus says, “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (vv. 31-33).

Not only does God care for our physical needs, but He cares for our spiritual needs.

Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life (John 6:35) and the living water (John 4:10). He is the perfect One who dies for our sin and comes back to life. When we turn from our sin and place our faith in Him, we drink water that never runs dry and eat bread that never perishes.

You see, in 1 Kings 19, Elijah receives bread and water to sustain him. But in the gospel, we’re not only given what we need physically, we’re given the only One who truly satisfies and sustains us through the ups and downs of life and ministry.

In your discouragement, are you trusting God to meet your needs? Are you drawing strength from the gospel?

The presence of God guides you.

After Elijah eats and makes his way to the cave at Horeb, God appears to him and asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?" (v. 9b).

Elijah vents: “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life” (v. 10).

Notice how Elijah feels comfortable enough in God’s presence to be honest with Him and explain his struggle. We see this brutal honesty often in the Psalms. For example, David says in Psalm 69:1-3, “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me. I am weary from crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.”

We can be honest with God about our discouragement. And He listens to our cries.

After Elijah pours his heart out, God tells him to stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence. That’s when the LORD passes by. But He doesn’t come through a mighty wind. He doesn’t come through an earthquake. He doesn’t even come through fire. Instead, He appears to Elijah as a soft whisper. Again, God asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah repeats his struggle (vv. 11-14).

God’s presence in Elijah’s life guides him to what’s next. In vv. 15-18, Elijah is told to go and anoint new kings. But he is also told to go and anoint his replacement, Elisha son of Shaphat.

When you’re discouraged, remember God’s presence in your life and how His presence guides you. In moments of discouragement, we’re tempted to stay put and not take another step. But God’s presence is near to encourage us and help us see what’s next.

Elijah experiences a soft whisper. But in the gospel, we experience the very presence of God dwelling within us.

In John 14-16, Jesus talks about the Spirit. He says, “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you” (14:17). Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come” (16:13).

Those who receive Jesus by grace through faith are given the Spirit of God. And the Spirit of God guides us. He guides us according to the Word of God.

In your discouragement, are you resting in God’s presence? Are you following the Spirit’s leading in your life?

The purpose of God drives you.

Having been sustained by God’s provision and guided by God’s presence, the prophet Elijah is driven again by the purpose of God.

Elijah leaves the mountain and finds Elisha. When he does, Elisha is plowing with oxen. Elijah walks by and throws his mantle over Elisha (v. 19). Elisha says goodbye to his family and follows Elijah (vv. 19-21).

Elijah and Elisha are driven. Elijah finishes out his ministry, eventually being taken into heaven in a whirlwind of chariots and horses (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha officially takes Elijah’s place as a prophet of Yahweh.

It’s interesting to note that Elijah is one of the only people in the Bible who doesn’t die. Instead, he is taken straight into heaven. Even though he desires to die in 1 Kings 19:4, he never dies at all.

Then, Elijah is referenced numerous times in the New Testament. John the Baptist comes in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). James encourages us to pray like Elijah (James 5:17). But the most notable reference to Elijah comes in the transfiguration when Elijah appears with Jesus and Moses on the mountain (Matthew 17).

Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus on the mountain. Matthew writes, “He [Jesus] was transfigured in front of them, his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him” (17:2-3).

During this spectacular event, Peter volunteers to make a shelter for each of them (v. 4). This is a reference to the Feast of Tabernacles. In response, God the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” (v. 5). The disciples respond in terror, falling face-down (v. 6). And when they look up, only Jesus remains.

Elijah and Moses are great, but Jesus Christ is far greater! The law and the prophets point to Him. And it’s by grace through faith in Jesus alone that we can understand God’s kingdom and His purpose for our lives in this world. Jesus Christ is the King of kings. He is the Lord of lords. And He tells us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).

God reminds Elijah of his purpose in 1 Kings 19, and that drives him. When we’re discouraged, we must remember our gospel purpose. When we’re experiencing a difficult season in ministry or questioning whether or not we should keep going, we must cling to our gospel purpose. God is being glorified as people from every nation, tribe, and tongue are coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives!

In your discouragement, are you driven by God’s purpose? Are you fixing your eyes on the big picture—God’s big plan?

God meets you in your discouragement. But He doesn’t leave you there. In the gospel, we find adequate provision. In the gospel, we find a trustworthy guide. In the gospel, we find a life-changing purpose. So, when you’re discouraged, don’t lose sight of who God is and what He is doing.

Like Elijah, you can finish strong. Not because you’re strong. But because the God you serve is.