Dealing with Despair

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"Take the helmet of salvation" (Eph. 6:17).

Your helmet of salvation protects you from discouragement and despair.

We've seen how Satan attacks believers with his two-edged sword of doubt and discouragement. But he doesn't stop there. He tries to take you beyond discouragement to despair by robbing you of hope. Unless you're careful, his attacks will be successful when you're battle-weary.

The prophet Elijah is an illustration of that truth. The highlight of his ministry came atop Mount Carmel, where he slew 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). Yet immediately after that great victory, he fled for his life because Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Kings 19:1- 3).

He ran from Mount Carmel into the wilderness of Beersheba, where he "sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, 'It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers'" (v. 4). He went on to moan, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away" (v. 10).

Elijah lost hope because he failed to see his circumstances through the eyes of faith; he was attempting to fight the battle on his own. He allowed himself to become emotionally, physically, and spiritually spent, and became overwhelmed with self-pity. He felt utterly alone.

But God hadn't abandoned Elijah. He was still in control and His people were numerous (v. 18). But Elijah had, in effect, removed his helmet of salvation and received a near-fatal blow to his confidence in God's blessing on his life.

There may be times when, like Elijah, you lose your confidence and doubt God's faithfulness. At such times, putting on the helmet of salvation means taking your eyes off your circumstances and trusting in God's promises. You may not always sense His presence or understand what He's doing, but be assured He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5) and His purposes will always be accomplished Rom. 8:28).

Suggestions for Prayer

Praise God for His unchanging character and irrevocable promises.

For Further Study

Read Isaiah 40:29-31 and Galatians 6:9.

What promises are given in those passages? In what specific ways do they apply to your life?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[V_TWIN]

Thank you for this. It is amazing how things just seem to come into your life when you need them. It is most definitely not a coincidence. :)

[Be Careful]

Thanks so much for posting this.

[Ezekiel]

Elijah lost hope because he failed to see his circumstances through the eyes of faith; he was attempting to fight the battle on his own. He allowed himself to become emotionally, physically, and spiritually spent, and became overwhelmed with self-pity. He felt utterly alone.

Well if this author were hand-picking prophets, he would surely have known better than to choose this weak Elijah fellow!

Where would that leave David? Just check out those Psalms. Poor sap, he allowed himself to become emotionally, physically, and spiritually spent.

Good thing God looks past outer appearances. Michal was disgusted that David dared let his hair down so to speak, and was playing and singing in the streets. Not very dignified for the king to let the hoi polloi see him acting like that. At least David had the sense to inform her that God chose him as ruler, and he would be even more flippant than that. No children for Michal. Why knowingly pass down her bad eyesight.

1 Corinthians 1

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Fact: God chose Elijah, one of the greatest prophets ever. Maybe the author should consider why that was, instead of poring over his character defects. God looked over Elijah and decided that for whatever reason, he'd be just perfect. You would think that by now folks would have caught on that God's definition of perfect isn't the same as man's. In fact, it is downright offensive.

Then again, this is the same teacher who has got people worried about being worried. It's a sin! Like we don't have enough to worry about.

Looking forward to God's Kingdom of joy and laughter. The outer darkness is filled with the weeping and gnashing of teeth. The pedantic can have it, so that they may deal with despair.

[Faith65]

bfl