“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…” (James 5:17) Is discouragement as real for you as it was for Elijah? In I Kings 19, we see the human side of the great prophet of the Old Testament. God uses his example to give us an escape plan from discouragement.

• Withdraw to refresh. Elijah was depleted both physically and spiritually. He needed the right kind of rest and renewal. Jesus took time to refresh. In our Lord’s Day, there were thousands of lepers to heal, sermons to preach, and souls to save; yet in the midst of His busy schedule, we see Jesus departing into a mountain or garden to pray.

• Watch what you say when you’re upset.  The original purpose for Elijah’s withdrawal was to sulk and have a pity party. “O Lord take my life away I am not better than my fathers.” (I Kings 19:4) It’s not good to speak when you’re distraught. Someone once said, “When your upset, you’ll make the greatest speech you’ll ever regret!” How true!!

• Be attentive to your health. “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, arise and eat.” (1 Kings 19:5) God miraculously provided food and rest for His discouraged prophet. The Lord was attentive to Elijah’s physical needs. Being unhealthy is not a sign of faith but rather foolishness. A farmer feeds his livestock a regimen of vitamins and high quality grains and keeps them in a non-stressful environment for high productivity and return.   Imagine this same farmer going to his favorite diner for a daily regimen of burgers, fries, and milk shakes.

• Consider the cause for your discouragement. Discouragement is not caused by my circumstance but rather by my mindset. At least two thoughts were Elijah’s sources for discouragement. One, he overestimated his own importance. “I am not better than my fathers…” (I Kings 19:4) Who ever told you that you were? A deflated ego always causes depression. Two he convinced himself he was the only one doing right, “I even I only am left!” Not true! God had reserved 7,000 to Himself.

• Remember that your friends outnumber your critics. Seven thousand have not bowed the knee to Baal. There is “a great crowd of witnesses” cheering you on. God was ready in the next chapter to reward Elijah with Elisha to mentor. All this and only one “Jezebel.”

• Listen to the still small voice. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (I Kings 19:12) Big days, conferences, that “life-changing” sermon are all great. However, the most lasting enduring works happen in the quiet of life. Sermon after sermon, verse after verse, prayer after prayer, the work of the Lord in quiet faithfulness — this is where the voice of the Lord is heard. Mt. Carmel wasn’t Elijah’s greatest success. Training Elisha in the quiet was.