Getting Through the Hard Times

As believers, many of us face trials, struggles and testing, that at times seem very overwhelming.  I kind of relate this to times when I ride my bike, sometimes when I am going against a strong wind it feels like I am going uphill as the wind almost stops my forward momentum.  By the time I get to the end of the trail, I can feel exhausted and worn out, but it all changes if I turn around and go back the other way because the wind is at my back, it kind of feels like I am gliding along without much effort at all on my part.   

Trials and tribulations will come and depending on how we handle them they will result in victory or defeat.  I have faced many of these things in my walk with the Lord and there were times I handled them with a very positive attitude and other times I handled them with a very negative attitude and with fear.  I am struggling with some things right now that seem very overwhelming at times and it seems like an uphill battle every single day and somedays I handle them better than other days.  But, the more I get into God’s Word and the more it gets into me, I feel freer and freer something that is very important.  So if you are struggling, read, study and listen to the Word and block out the worldly things that hinder you and let the Word get into your heart, it will help you.

I was reading about a God fearing man that was going through a great struggle in his day; his name was Elijah.  Elijah was experiencing some real victories for a while, you may relate them to mountaintop experiences, and some were real miracles.  Elijah was a true man of God.  At the request of Adonai he went to the town of Zarephath and there he met a widow, a woman who was gathering sticks to make a fire to cook her last meal for her and her son before they died of starvation.  Elijah was told by Adonai to tell this woman that her jar of flour and her jar of oil would not be exhausted until Adonai sent rain on the land, because there was a drought, and that is exactly what happened.  As the story goes on, the widow’s son dies and Elijah, with Adonai’s help, brings the boy back to life; wow, how would you feel if you were Elijah?  

Then he has a confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and when it was time for the evening sacrifice, after the prophets of Baal wasted their time all day trying to get Baal to answer them and do something, he set up an altar to Adonai and prayed and the fire of Adonai came down and burned up the sacrifice.  Then he had the prophets of Baal rounded up and destroyed; all of them.  Then he goes back up the mountain and prays for rain and it starts to look like a storm is about to take place, then Elijah tells his servant to go and tell King Ahab to get his chariot ready and get back to Jezreel, before the rain stops him, which he does.  Then Elijah runs and out runs Ahab’s chariot to Jezreel with the help of Adonai.  I have never seen a man out run a horse.

Now with all this happening you would think that Elijah would be on top of the world, and at the time he probably was.  Then Elijah gets the bad news that Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, is going to kill him, or have him killed, and he would be like her prophets of Baal.  Now you would think that Elijah would have the faith to stand his ground, but he is scared and runs for his life.  When these circumstances and situations happen, maybe not the exact same thing as happened to Elijah, but when they happen some of us are devastated just like Elijah was.  We can be frightened, or maybe depressed, feeling like we have been knocked down for the count and finding it hard to get back up again maybe feeling like we just hit a brick wall, feeling like everything is an uphill battle.  

Jesus said this in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have shalom. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!”

In this situation Elijah is on the run, going to Horeb the mountain of God.  The trip would take him at least forty days and forty nights.  In the process an angel came to him twice and provided for him food and drink and encouraged him.  When Elijah got there, there was a great mighty wind and then there was an earthquake and then a fire and then a soft whisper of a voice.  Then all of a sudden the voice spoke to him.  

Read what it says in 1 Kings 19:12-18, “After the earthquake a fire, but Adonai was not in the fire. After the fire there was a soft whisper of a voice. As soon as Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then all of a sudden, a voice addressed him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ ‘I have been very zealous for Adonai-Tzva’ot,’ he said, ‘for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword—and I alone am left, and they are seeking to take my life!’ Then Adonai said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram, and anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. It shall come to pass that whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will slay; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will slay. Yet I have preserved seven thousand in Israel whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouth has not kissed him.’”

Elijah must have been so elated and at peace because Adonai had showed up.  

    

Possibly there are some of you that just need a special touch from Adonai to help you take on a new perspective, just like Elijah did.  Elijah may have felt like his trial would never get over, after all forty days and forty nights can seem like a lifetime when you are on the run, especially when fear takes over and you are not sure what the outcome will be.  But when Adonai shows up then you feel so much better, but let me tell you this, in His Word He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” praise the Lord.  But I realize that sometimes it feels that way, but hang in there the Lord is faithful and He will get you through any trial that you are going through, and when he does you will be up praising and thanking the Lord again, if you had lost your joy.

Remember what I said about my bicycle ride, when Adonai shows up, it is kind of like when I turn around and go back the other way and the wind is at my back and it is like I am just gliding along again without much effort on my part.  When that happens, your joy and peace are back and you are up and ready to take on the world again!!  God’s Word says there is a time for everything so like I said hang in there, you may be on the verge of your break through; it might be just another prayer away!!  I have given you something to think about and I hope this has been a help and encouragement to you!!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love, joy, health and happiness!  Don’t forget to thank and praise Adonai, He is worthy!!