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Show A HURRICANE OF THE SOUL: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET DISCOURAGED I Kings 18: 45; 19 wonderful text about the power of God when the servant of God gets discouraged. This is a Although, Elijah had great success, he felt all alone and wanted to give up. He even had a spirit of suicide and did not want to life anymore, prematurely. He felt like all of his effort was in vain and that surely God had something better for him in another life. When I read this passage it jumped out at me. The people in Florida had been complaining, like the rest of us, that it was too dry, that they needed rain. Then, the other day they got word that Hurricane Frances was stirring up trouble off the coast and its way. The word got out that it was a huge storm larger than the state of Texas with winds over a hundred miles an hour. they had better get prepared. They began to buy extra supplies. It was headed their way and 1 They nailed up windows and tied down everything that was loose. They looked for places to park their cars not under trees or poles that might fall. Millions packed up and headed for higher ground. The storm was pouncing on the Bahamas and, on pace, would reach the shores of Florida sometime Friday. Friday came kept moving to Friday afternoon, to Friday night, to Saturday morning, to Saturday afternoon, to Saturday night, to Sunday morning, to Sunday afternoon, to Sunday night, to Monday morning. The clouds got dark, the winds picked up, and the rain started to pour. and the time Those left behind locked themselves in the house to ride out the hurricane. things you ought to know about a hurricane. First, hurricanes are not always predictable. They sometimes go where your expect them other times they don't. They speed up and slow down regardless of our human efforts. Second, hurricanes do damage no matter how much you prepare. Third, Now, there are two or 2 three hurricanes are no respecter of person. back up and give you a little context. God had called Elijah and prepared him to deal Let me with the evils of Ahab and Jezebel. (Chapter 17) Elijah won the contest with the 450 false prophets of Baal and slew them all down by the brook. Then, "Elijah went up to the top ofMt. Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees." (18: 42) sea The servant of Elijah looked toward the six times and seventh trip, they saw nothing. Finally saw a on the little cloud the size of a man's hand. I tell you God does not need much to get started with. Elijah warned Ahab to prepare his chariot and get down the mountain because the 2 'l2 years of no rain was over. The text says, "And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain." (I Kings 18: 45) The hurricane had come. You can tie things down when you hear that the storm is coming. You can run when the storm is 3 physical. You can head for higher ground and lock yourself in some shelter when the winds are natural. You are dark. You can can wait it out when the clouds find higher ground when the heavens pour our rain. Where do you go and what do you do when it is a hurricane of the soul? Elijah knew that another hurricane was coming, a hurricane of the soul. It was a hurricane of discouragement. He felt like he all alone. The clouds of his soul had grown dark. The winds of despair were blowing. And was as if that was not enough, the rain of dismay poured down. What do you do when you are facing a hurricane of the soul? First, Elijah tried to run. He went a day's journey into the wilderness and sat down under a juniper tree. He complained to God that he had enough and that he would rather be dead. But God sent Elijah a heavenly visitor. An angel came and woke him up and told him to eat of the bread baked on the coals and to drink of 4 the water at his head. A second time, an angel came and woke him up and told him to eat because he would have to have sustenance to make this journey. He got up, ate, and drank, and "went in the strength of that meat forty days . forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." (19: 8) The Lord rescued Elijah from the hurricane of his soul, discouragement. When you feel discouraged and your hope is gone, God is waiting to meet your needs. When you wonder if it's worth it or if anybody cares, God cares. He will lift you up and give you and safe harbor. blow. He has He has shelter from the winds that light for the dark clouds. He has sustenance in the midst of the rain. 5 |
