21 Days of Prayer - PersevereSample

When You Want to Give Up

Before Elijah flees in 1 Kings 19, he witnesses an incredible miracle in 1 Kings 18. He and the false prophets of Baal are in a showdown. The false prophets built an altar and called on their god to send fire down, but nothing happened. When Elijah built his altar and prayed to God, “the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). As a result, all the people cried, “The Lord--He is God! The Lord--He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).

Elijah had just witnessed an incredible victory! Yet the queen sends a threatening message to Elijah, saying that she will kill him within a day, and Elijah panics. The faith and power he felt just a few moments before is removed by fear, worry, and doubt. He ran away into the wilderness and prayed that he would die. He told God that he’d had enough and asked Him to take his life.

Have you ever been in a moment when you wanted to give up? Maybe you were faced with an impossible situation and wanted to quit. Maybe you had enough of a boss or coworker and wanted to resign. Perhaps you were so overwhelmed with life that you wanted to end it all.

When we feel like we’ve had enough, we must remember that God always has more for us. While Elijah sulks and hides, God approaches Him. First, an angel of the Lord appears to Elijah to provide physical food to nourish him on the rest of his journey. Then, God Himself appears to Elijah and asks the simple question, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9).

This question may have been literal, as in, “What are you doing in a cave in the wilderness, Elijah?” But I believe this question had a deeper meaning. Could it be that God was asking Elijah, “What are you doing here, in this place of despair? What are you doing here, asking for your life to end?” Another form of this question: “How did you get here?”

It may not always be possible to see how we get to an unhealthy place mentally, physically, or emotionally, but what we do know is when we’ve arrived, we’ve arrived. We get to this place where we want to let it all go, and it’s in these moments where we have to persevere. We have to choose not to give up. We must have the courage to keep pushing forward.

It’s often in these moments where, much like Elijah, God speaks to us personally and gives us direction for what to do next. In his darkest moment, God gave Elijah clear instructions for what he was to do next (1 Kings 19:15-18). With this new vision and direction, Elijah could find the strength and courage to move out of his place of darkness.

Sometimes, we need extra help to get out of the dark places. We need counselors and mentors to help us navigate our emotions and decisions. Still, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. When you want to quit, remember God is right there with you. He will meet you in the wilderness, in your deep, dark cave. He’ll speak to you directly, offering a roadmap to the light.

Don’t give up. God has more for you!

Emily N. Green

Prayer Point: In what way(s) do you want to give up? Pray about this and ask God to give you perseverance to keep going.