No one is immune. Not you. Not me.
We all face hard times, and those times often hit when we least expect it.
Life can seem to be going along great when, all of a sudden, things are pulled out from under us, and we are thrown into circumstances beyond our control.
When difficulties and problems abound, it’s easy to begin to feel isolated and alone, and to wonder:
Where is God?!
That’s a fair question, as it can seem He is nowhere to be found. Silent. Distant. Seemingly unconcerned.
But, friend, I want you to know that those feelings betray the truth. I don’t know what you may be facing today, but I do want to assure you God is in the midst of your pain, suffering, and struggle. He has not forsaken you, nor turned His back on you.
The devil wants nothing more than for you to believe the lie that God has abandoned you. He wants to discourage you. To knock you down and keep you down.
That’s why I love the story of Elijah. The book of James declares him to be every bit as human as we are, and as you read his story you can see why. One moment he is relishing in an incredible victory… and the next he is running for his life… depressed and almost suicidal! He is all done. Ready to quit.
Maybe today you’re on the verge of quitting. You figure, I’ve had enough. I’m done. Enough pressures, enough hassles; I’m at the end of my strength. I can’t ride this thing out anymore. I’ve had enough problems in my marriage, enough financial pressure, enough harassment at my job, enough struggles over my health, enough bad reports about my kids. I can’t take any more. My strength is gone!
Maybe you’ve even sunk to the depths that Elijah did, and you’re thinking, God, just take my life. Lord, it would be easier if I just died and went home to be with Jesus. I wouldn’t have to face this tomorrow morning when I wake up.
Maybe you’ve even bought the lie the devil whispers in people’s ears: Your spouse and your kids would be better off without you, and no one else would really miss you either.
Let me assure you, that is a lie of the devil!
What we find out in the story of Elijah is that when he was at the end of his strength—when he got to zero—God intervened.
The moral is this: Being out of strength, being at zero, is not a bad place to be; that is, if you’ll look to God.
