Don't stop praying

Thu, Aug 13th 2015, 11:40 AM

So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” – I Kings 19:2-4

Only God can keep us focused. Only God can give us the courage to carry on when failure and disaster seem imminent. When we are focused on the cross and cast our burdens upon Jesus, he will lead us in paths of righteousness and guide us out of our maze of difficulties.

In the above text, we are told about the Prophet Elijah who wanted to quit because things were not going well for him. He was afraid and discouraged about the way things were going, therefore, he ran away from what he perceived to be a bad situation. He was so despondent; he wanted the Lord to take him out of this world. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.

Even though the prophet had earlier displayed the power of a mighty God, he allowed the threat of an evil queen to “send him into a tailspin”. He was not thinking clearly. He just wanted God to end his life. Life is precious. God gives it to us and he takes it away. We do not have any control over life and death. Therefore, an attempt to, or a success in taking our own life, is an affront to God.

Things really have to be going badly when a person wants to die. I know of people who have prayed for death during a time of illness. There are people who attempt to kill themselves while others succeed in taking their life because of a bad situation. When one feels that death is better than life, then one is in a place where only God can intervene.

When the journey seems difficult and your back is against the wall, rely upon the Lord to carry you. He will give you all that you need to carry on. He sustained Elijah and he will sustain you in your problems.

The text gives us an insight into the mind of a great man of God. He suffered from depression. However, even though he had his low moments and prayed to die, he did not try to take his own life. He left that for God to do.

Some of the great men of God did have their moments of depression; however, they left their destiny in the hands of God. They did not try to play God and take their own life. There were times that they felt that God was not with them. They felt all alone; I too sometimes feel like I am all alone. But then, I cry out to God. He is my miracle worker.

Therefore, don’t feel that you are losing your faith when you have moments of depression. You are not alone. God is with you. Depression is a malady that stricken the best of us.

Notwithstanding this, the problems of this world do not deserve the taking of your own life. There is always a way out of any dilemma. Turn to God in your moment of crisis. The Psalmist writes, (Ps. 34: 4) “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” God does deliver us out of our dilemma.

God sent an angel to revive Elijah’s spirit and give him the strength to carry on. During your difficult moments, cry out to God. I can assure you, he will send angels to guide you out of your troubles. He will. He delivered Elijah.

When things get difficult and walls seem to be closing in, cry out to God. Pray like Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Don’t stop praying. God will come to rescue you. He promised, “I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age.” (Mathew 20:20) Amen.

Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas, or telephone 426-9084; email: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com.

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