We all encounter painful, desperate situations when we’d rather give up on life than face the future.
It’s normal to feel despair at times, especially when everything around you seems unbearable. But there’s still hope. Elijah thought that he was the only one who still followed the Lord. He was so desperate that he even prayed that God would take his life. He just didn’t think life was worth living any more. But it wasn’t true. He found out later that there were many who still followed the Lord.
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” (1 Kings 19:4, NKJV).
Although Elijah had given up, God spoke encouragement and Elijah was “returned to duty.” Elijah found that the Lord will intervene to make “all things work together for good to those who love God,” (Romans 8:28). God is interested in our well-being. And just as He helped Elijah, He will give us hope to help us in our times of despair.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
