I have had enough, Lord!

^{by: carole l. haines}

³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. (1 Kings 19 NASB)

Living honestly before God, even when we are wrong; this is what serves us best.  God’s Word is powerful enough, perfect enough, loving enough, to bring correction to us; when we are off-balance in our thinking on any matter.

Elijah had just experienced a major victory in the Lord.  The Prophets of Baal were defeated and killed.  God had proved Himself The one and only true God.  But Elijah was exhausted, and wearied from it all. In his weakened state, he became afraid of Jezebel, even after God had shown His Might so readily before him. Elijah wanted to die, he was tired of running himself ragged.  Ever felt that way?

I had suffered such a period of terrible loss in my own life, that I just couldn’t muster the strength to believe anymore.  I cried out to God saying, “Lord, it is too much, can you just take me home now.  Just let me die! This is all killing me!”

God didn’t rebuke me for feeling this way, “He gently came to me, through His Word, and encouraged my heart.  He spoke to me, and told me the real truth.  He gave me His perspective instead of my own.  The woman who went in to that time of testing and loss did die, in a manner of speaking; and out of those flames emerged a different woman, more devoted to God than ever before.
God spoke tenderly to Elijah, cared for him, encouraged him and drew him close. God spoke truth to Elijah, showing him where he was in error in his thinking.
God does the same for us.  He gently leads us in His Word and brings correction, encouragement and guidance.  Let us lay out our hearts before Him and let Him search us, correct us and lead us in the everlasting way.  What a great and wonderful Heavenly Father we have.

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10 NASB)