Hope in the Midst of AnxietySample

When it Doesn't Make Sense

There are numerous examples in the Bible of people experiencing emotions and anxiety. Anxiety is so much more common than many people realize. There is anxiety over jobs, health, family, relationships, finances, and so much more. We live in a time of uncertainty! Anxiety is a physical and emotional response to the stress of everything around us, but the issue becomes when we allow anxiety to linger and drive how we do our day-to-day life. Let’s take a look at Elijah's story. Elijah was a prophet who suffered from anxiety and discouragement: 

"But he himself went on a day's 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

Elijah was at a loss. And this happened not because something terrible had happened. Sometimes our struggles with discouragement and anxiety are simply unexplainable. They just don’t make sense. Elijah also felt alone during this hard time: Then he said,

"I have been very zealous for the Lord, and the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down Your alters and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." 1 Kings 19:14

The amount of fear, anxiety, worry, and loneliness Elijah must have felt was debilitating.  He felt alone. God then asked Elijah to take a huge step.

The Lord said "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." 1 Kings 19:11

God was drawing him out of the dark and lonely place because that’s what He does. He doesn’t leave us discouraged and alone. He comes after us! God asks Elijah a question,

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9

After Elijah was drawn God asks the same question again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13) and Elijah answers the question the same way he did the first time. God did not tell Elijah he already said that, or to stop repeating himself and trust God.

God meets us where we are in our processing. He is helping us navigate, He is not rushing or forcing. God then told Elijah to go back the way he came. Even if we don’t respond with faith, but with fear instead, God has a process of bringing us back closer to Him. Our God is a compassionate Father, one who is patient and one who will lift our burdens and smother them with his peace:

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."  Psalm 86:15

Friends, it’s not what is happening to us, but what God is doing through us.

Throughout the Bible Jesus always stops for the people who are broken, hurting, and in need of His power. God’s power was made perfect in Elijah’s anxiety and weakness as well, showing us that God will use us in whatever state we are in to further His glory and fulfill His plan for our life. Our inability to do things is not what God focuses on, it is our openness to Him. God will continue to work and use you, despite the conditions and storms you are enduring. Replace the anxiety with truth from God’s word. God has given us His strength to crush the thoughts of fear and replace them with His abounding peace.

Here’s something really important: God’s good plans for us cannot and will not be thwarted by our doubts with anxiety and discouragement!

He was faithful to Elijah.  And He will be faithful to you and me.