A burn out and depression come when our hope is dashed. It is, therefore, vital where we place our hope. Hoping even in good things will result in a burn out and depression if it is not in the ultimate cause.

Elijah was a mighty man of faith. He defeated 400 Baal prophets in a contest of the gods. It was to be a once-and-for-all type of contest to see who the real God is. Elijah thought that if His God showed Himself so spectacularly and unmistakably, then all of Israel will follow Him. A revival will break out! And the contest was won by Elijah in a spectacular way. There was no mistake in who won the contest unlike so many of boxing matches… It was a knock out punch delivered by God. (1 Kings 18)

But immediately after the great spiritual victory, the evil queen Jezebel wanted to kill him. And this told Elijah that the victory really did not achieve the desired effect. The queen has not changed and was still evil. So, Elijah must’ve thought, “What is the point? I’ve given my best shot. Now, I have no punches left. I might as well die….”

This point came for me in ministry and still does come time to time. After I’ve thrown my best punches and really thought that a breakthrough would come, it didn’t come…. At least not the way I expected. But the words spoken by a martyred missionary bid me to keep on: “We are not called to success; only to obedience.”

God never told Elijah that after the great victory, a revival would break out. That was what Elijah expected and hoped for, but it was’t to be. If anything, it was to show how wicked and evil that generation was as an indictment against them.

But there were some fruits. There were those who heeded the call of Elijah. God has preserved for Himself those whose knees did not bow to the false god. And to them at least, it must’ve been a confirmation that God is still God and mighty.

– Perhaps you thought a breakthrough would come in your marriage after that counseling session. But it did not…
– Perhaps a change in your teenager after that incident. But he’s still the same…
– Perhaps your besetting sin would be broken after that encounter with God. But it has returned…
– Perhaps our church would grow explosively after a certain many seasons. But will it?

Our hope is in God. And our reward ultimately in heaven with God. Everything else will disappoint.

PH