It came to pass

"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, 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.  Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep."  I Kings 19:3-5.  

 

Discouragement can become a destroyer of a person's life.  Elijah had just finished some of the greatest accomplishments of his life.  He was a powerful leader and won many tremendous battles.  Yet he could not win this new battle called, 'Discouragement'.  Disappointments can lead to discouragement.  Discouragement can lead to depression.

 

The story is told of a Sunday class that had been asked the question: "In your time of discouragement, what is your favorite Scripture?" A young man said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Ps. 23:1. A middle age woman said, "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". Ps. 46:1. Another woman said, "In this world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome this world". John 16:33-35.

 

Then old Mr. John who was 80 years old, with head of white hair and dark black skin, stood up and said with as much strength as he could muster, "And it came to pass." found 85 times in the bible. The class started to laugh a little thinking that old Mr. John's lack of memory was getting the best of him. When the snickering stopped, he said, "At 30 I lost my job with six hungry mouths and a wife to feed. I didn't know how I would make it. At 40 my eldest son was killed overseas in the war. It knocked me down. At 50 my house burned to the ground. Nothing was saved out of the house. At 60 my wife of 40 years got cancer. It slowly ate away at her."  On and on this old man shared all the pain and discouragement that life served him.  The key, "And it came to pass." 

 

Our trials are not our destination but a journey.  Be encouraged for whatever you may face, our God is greater.  He will see you through and beyond the present because, "It came to pass."

 

Kingdom Declaration:

My God is greater than whatever I may face today and He is in my tomorrow before I get there.

 

Read the Bible in One Year: Esther 6-8; Acts 6

@Dr Pat Francis
@chayil$