From Splendor to Shadow

Elijah's Utter Despondency

Forgetting God, Elijah fled on and on, until he found himself in a dreary waste, alone. Utterly wearied, he sat down to rest under a juniper tree, and requested that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” His spirit crushed by bitter disappointment, he desired never again to look on the face of man. At last, exhausted, he fell asleep. SS 85.2

To all there come times of keen disappointment and discouragement—days when it is hard to believe that God is still kind, days when troubles harass till death seems preferable to life. Then many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt and unbelief. Could we at such times discern the meaning of God's providences, we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet on a firm foundation, and new faith, new life, would spring into being. SS 85.3

The faithful Job in his affliction and darkness declared: SS 86.1

Let the day perish wherein I was born.
O that I might have my request, ...
I would choose ... death ... . I loathe my life.
Job 3:3; 6:8; 7:15, 16, RSV

But though weary of life, Job was not allowed to die. To him was given the message of hope: SS 86.2

You will forget your misery;

You will remember it as waters that have passed
away.
And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
Its darkness will be like the morning.
Job 11:16, 17, RSV SS 86.3

From the depths of despondency Job rose to the heights of trust in God. Triumphantly he declared: SS 86.4

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He will stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God.
Job 19:25, 26, NKJV

When Job caught a glimpse of his Creator, he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes. Then the Lord was able to bless him and make his last years the best of his life. SS 86.5

Despondency is sinful and unreasonable. God is willing “more abundantly” (Hebrews 6:17) to bestow on His servants the strength they need. The plans of the enemies of His work may seem firmly established, but God can overthrow the strongest of these. For the disheartened there is a sure remedy—faith, prayer, work. Are you tempted to give way to anxious foreboding or despondency? In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear not. God knows your need. His infinite love and compassion never weary. Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who love Him. And He will bestow on His faithful servants the efficiency that their need demands. Paul has testified: “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ ... For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness ...; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10, RSV. SS 86.6

Did God forsake Elijah in his trial? No! He loved His servant no less when he felt forsaken of God and man. And now a soft touch and pleasant voice awoke him. The pitying face bending over him was not the face of an enemy, but of a friend. God had sent an angel with food. “Arise and eat,” the angel said. “And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head.” SS 87.1

After Elijah had partaken of the refreshment, he slept again. A second time the angel touched the exhausted man, and said with pitying tenderness, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” In the strength of that food he was able to journey “forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God,” where he found refuge in a cave. SS 87.2