Recapture God’s Perspective

“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.'” 1 Kings 19:9-10 (ESV)

Elijah experienced the miracle working, idol defeating, prayer answering display of God’s splendor. A major spiritual victory had been won on Mount Carmel. The 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah were slaughtered. The people of Israel responded to the demonstration of God’s power by kneeling and proclaiming, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

Once Elijah received a threat from Jezebel, he descended from the mountain of public victory to the valley of personal defeat. He ran for his life and entered the wilderness. As he sat under a broom tree, he hit a personal all-time low and wanted God to take away his life. Elijah spiraled down into the depths of depression.

Fear causes you to lose perspective. Fear blurs your focus and exaggerates your circumstances. Recapture God’s perspective on your life and on your circumstances. Remember that you are designed by God and for God’s glory. If God allows you to go through a difficult situation, He will use it for your good and for His glory.

God has the final say. Rest in His sovereignty. God has the power to change both you and your circumstances. Sometimes God removes your obstacles and sometimes God gives you the grace to navigate life in the midst of the obstacles you face.

God provided Elijah with rest, refreshment, revelation, and relationship. Elijah recaptured God’s perspective on life.

Following Jesus Every Day,

Stephen Trammell