Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
1 KINGS 19:4 | 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”
Our vulnerability varies with our personalities, perspective, practices, circumstances, and our individual physical profiles. Although it is impossible to know all of these things about Elijah in detail, educated guesses are possible. His circumstances were very difficult. The Baal’s were politically convenient gods for politicians, who could promise that certain external religious rites would deliver agricultural and personal fertility. These deities reflected and served human drives for sexual pleasure, control, and success. Yahweh was another matter entirely. He was radically independent and wanted to challenge and shape human desires. He demanded holiness not indulgence. Monarchies were subsidiary powers that were subject to His laws and will and they derived their limited authority only from His providential appointment. Every king or queen was subject to His judgement. Yahweh stood in opposition to the cultic practices of Canaan and insisted on exclusive loyalty not casual and open connection.
This meant Elijah’s task was very, very hard to accomplish. Dynamic personalities driven to achieve big goals often struggle with failure, which triggers depression.
Have you experienced the emotional challenge of failure?
