Feelings Are Fickle:
Faith to Fear – Part 3

Scripture Reading:  1 Kings 19:1-9

Key Verse:  1 Kings 19:3

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there

Let’s continue one more day in our study of the Prophet Elijah’s emotions.  We already noted that his elation at defeating the 450 prophets of Baal soon turned into discouragement that made him want to die.  Our feelings really can be fickle.  Yesterday we started to look at what God did with Elijah’s fickle emotions.

            Not only was God not mad at Elijah, we see in verse six that God sent an angel to cook Elijah a meal.  The angel let Elijah take a nap, and then awakened him to some fresh bread and water to refresh him.  God knew how to handle these fickle emotions that His prophet was experiencing.  We should take heart from this part of the story; God is not mad at you when your emotions are swinging in all directions and He knows exactly how to help you.  It could be God might nudge you to take a nap and/or eat healthier.  God might nudge you to get some exercise or go spend some time with a friend.

            I love the words the angel said to Elijah after his second nap: “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”  In other words, “Elijah, don’t try to do this on your own…you need to follow God’s lead.”  When your emotional life is swinging to the extremes, don’t try to figure it out without God.  Ask for help and listen carefully to the inner nudges of His Spirit.  God knows when our journey is too much for us and has the answers to how to overcome the problems!

Father, when my emotions start to take over and worry or stress start to overcome me, I will depend upon you!  Guide me to your answers!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.