Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov 1/62

Contributor - Rev. J. Dykstra

Title - Discouraged?

Topic - Discouragement

But he himself went a days journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die. 1 KINGS 19: 4.

The story is told that the devil had put his tools up for sale. A treacherous lot of implements was on display : hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lying, pride, and so on each with its price tag. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless looking tool, well worn and priced very high. When a purchaser asked the name of that tool, the devil tersely answered that it was discouragement. On questioning its high price, the answer was given that discouragement was more useful to the devil than any other for he could pry open and get inside a man's heart with it when no other tool succeeded. It was badly worn because he used it on almost everyone, since few people knew it belonged to him.

Finding Elijah so desperately discouraged that he wants to die may be quite surprising to you. Somehow we imagine that men like Elijah never get discouraged. But the devil delights in discouraging workers in the Kingdom : ministers, elders, deacons, teachers, choir members - anyone who threatens to undo his plans. And often enough we fail to recognize his tactics. Parents grow discouraged and young folks do and businessmen and farmers and factory workers and housewives.

So easily do we grow weary in well doing when the devil attacks us with discouragement. Hands hang limply and knees grow feeble and we are almost ready to give up.

The devil struck Elijah when he was most vulnerable. He was dead tired from running in fear from the wicked Jezebel. He is so tired and hungry and life now hardly seems worth living anymore. So recently Elijah had been so strong in the faith. On top of Mount Carmel he had contested with Baal's 450 men. God had shown his great power by striking Elijah's offering with fire and it looked like all Israel had turned to God in faith. He had dared prophesy to Ahab that rain was coming though the sky was cloudless and there had been drought for more than three years. After agonizing prayer for rain, he had run before Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel. But often it goes that way, from the mountain top to the depths. The height of the crest of one way measures the depth of the trough of the next. Hungry, tired, in a most desolate and depressing surrounding, Elijah falls prey to discouragement. No wonder.

But God ministers to the need of His discouraged servant. He refreshes his body with sleep and food. Then He shows him His mighty power: a fierce wind roars through the savage peaks, the shock makes the mountains reel, and the flashing flames light up in the wild landscape. But though God uses these to prepare His way, gentleness is the "habitation of His throne". God is in the still small voice Almost rebukingly God asks, "What are you doing here, Elijah

Elijah's answer is weak before God's sovereignty. God tells Elijah he still has work to do and furthermore that he is by no means the only faithful one left, but that 7000 still stand true to Jehova.

The faithfulness of God is the "hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast". We may have moments of desperation when we imagine all is lost, but God's promises reassure us and His servants speak to us across the centuries, "Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance, and my God". Don't let the devil ruin your joy and hope and the service you would render to God by His well worn tool of discouragement. Hope in God for you shall yet praise Him.

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