“Failure” is not a word we associate with the prophet Elijah.

But Elijah once believed he was failing at faith.

After yet another death threat, he fled. The man had seen miracles. He’d played a part. Elijah knew he had been following and obeying God. But his faith felt like it was faltering as he was rejected again and again:

Alone in the wilderness, Elijah prayed:

“’I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’.” –1 Kings 19:4

We don’t find God telling Elijah to toughen up and go do another mighty miracle. He wasn’t even immediately asked to witness to anyone else.

Instead, God sent an angel to care for, comfort, and encourage him. There was no reprimand.

God is glorified when we draw near to Him. He chooses to invite us into His presence.

He loves to remind us that He is faithful, even when we fail to be.

That’s exactly what God went on to do for Elijah. Before God gave him another mission, he sent him to a quiet cave. There, Elijah was told:

“Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” -1 Kings 19:11

You probably know what happens next. The wind blows, the earth quakes, fire roars, and God is not in them. God’s presence comes with a gentle whisper.

What humbling comfort!

In our walk with the Lord, we often believe our relationship with God is most wonderful and effective for eternity when we’re on fire. We think that God is most glorified when our impact is earth-shaking. It’s easy to believe that God is working the most through us when our ministries are as powerful as the wind.

God is glorified in the quiet, too.

When you think you’re failing at faith because you’re not making a visible impact on others or seeing any results, remember that God also commands us, for His glory, to:

“Be still and know that I am God” –Psalm 46:10

There’s a time for changing the world and a time for embracing God as He changes our hearts. Worship Him in the stillness.

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As I sit here today, I am experiencing adversity in a large way and needing the arms of Jesus to get me through.

I’ve tried in my own power to fix the situation at hand many times over and it’s just not working out the way that I thought that it would or should!  So, from my heart, God is sharing truth that I will now share with you and hopefully it will comfort us all and teach us His infinite wisdom that will take us through our adversity to the other side one day, where peace will prevail and panic will cease.

God tells me in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; Never will I  forsake you.”

That’s a great promise!   Never is without end!!!  Do I trust His words?  I claim as a Christian that I  believe the Word of God is truth.  Why then, when things happen, am I and so many others like me afraid and why do we resort to our own means of solving issues as if He doesn’t exist at all?

It’s called “living in the flesh” and not “walking in the Spirit”. It’s a battle we face on a daily basis, just as Paul described in Romans 7.

As we try unsuccessfully to control situations and people without consulting God, we leave them untouched by God’s hand and, most of the time,  worse than they were before we became involved. Through our humanity and our good intentions, we can prolong lessons God is trying to teach us and other people.  By stepping into God’s plan for our life or another person’s life without the Spirit guiding us, we swerve things off course, and do a disservice to the kingdom of God.

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it’s wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it's wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!
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Solomon is a great example.  1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

We see in the life of Solomon that His own wisdom apart from God was destructive, but when he utilized God’s wisdom and followed in His truth, he was richly blessed.  We are blessed that, unlike Solomon, we have the grace of Jesus, so we do not live under the penalty of our sin – but that is no excuse for continual sin in our lives.

After we recognize the wrong of our right, what should we do?

Ask for forgiveness.  The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 –  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Next, we need to remember the old saying: “without pain there is no gain.”  Trials come for a reason, and it is through the pain that we and other people we love learn hard lessons and grow in the faith.

God never promised an easy road.  He promised comfort, and strength to face our adversities.  He promised wisdom, guidance and an eternity with Him one day – in a much better place.

Through these trials, our hope is in His truth:

Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

Romans 8:28 says, ” And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  All things means the good and the bad, the pleasant and not so pleasant!

Our lives, out of love for our Savior, should be an outpouring of the truth that is within us because of the Spirit that indwells us.  It’s a hard road in our flesh, but through the Spirit that indwells us, it’s not impossible.

I am encouraged today by the Lord and His truth that He has revealed to me.  And I trust you are too!  Let’s stand strong together in our faith and cry out to our Father who wants to comfort our hearts, guide our steps, and grow our hearts toward Him.

 Phillipians 4:6-7 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

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The post Living with Adversity in the Arms of Jesus appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.