Unfading
     Beauty

What do you mean when you speak of God answering your prayers?  Most often do you really mean that He said “yes” to your petitions?  One of the most challenging lessons for Multi-tasked Women to learn is that “yes,” “no,” and “wait” are all responses to her requests. 

What is your reaction when you earnestly pray that a situation will have a specific outcome, and the response from your heavenly Father is no or wait?  Do you believe that there is no good thing that He will withhold from you if you are walking uprightly (Psalm 84:11) and focus on your responsibility of walking uprightly; or are you like Elijah when he fled from Jezebel to the wilderness, sat under a juniper tree, and wished to die (1 Kings 19:4)?  The woman who chooses the response aligned with Psalm 84:11 embraces contentment, while the one who opts for an Elijah Effect is courting discouragement.

            Discouragement, extracted from the Greek word athumeo, means to be disheartened, dispirited, and discouraged;¹ it frequently occurs when there is a discrepancy between expectation and fulfillment.  As an emotion, discouragement’s roots are frequently planted in the soil of idealistic expectations such as holding perfectionist standards for yourself and others, embracing impractical outcomes for the institutions you are associated with, and anticipating unrealistic benefits from work, leisure time, education, or marriage.  The greater the discrepancy between hope and fulfillment, the greater the potential for discouragement—and in many instances the resulting emotion of discouragement is actually anger without enthusiasm.  You know from Scripture that anger for a selfish reason is sin (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:32).

            A study of Scripture reveals that discouragement was a reaction of many of the individuals recorded in its pages.  As believers we should learn from both their positive and poor responses to cope with discouragement in our own life (1 Corinthians 10:6) and to offer encouragement to others

(2 Corinthians 1:3-7).  Consider the following:

· Cain, when God pronounced judgment upon him for the murder of Abel (Genesis 4:13-14).

· Hagar, after she was cast out of the household of Abraham because of Sarah’s jealousy (Genesis 21:15-16).

· Moses when he was sent on his mission to the Israelites (Exodus 4:1, 10, 13; 6:12), at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15), and when the Israelites lusted for flesh (Numbers 11:15).

· The Israelites because of the cruel oppression of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:9).

· Elijah following his flight from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:4).

· Hannah as she experienced infertility (1 Samuel 1-2).

·  Job following the devastation of his life (Job 3:1-26, 17:13-16).

· David through multiple difficulties (Psalm 41 and 51).

· Jeremiah often called “the weeping prophet” (Lamentations 3:1-21).

· Jonah after he had preached to the Ninevites (Jonah 4:3, 8).

· The mariners with Paul (Acts 27:20).

An analysis of Elijah's life (1 Kings 19:1-22; 2 Kings 2:1-10) provides us with biblical guidelines for detonating discouragement.         

            Elijah emerged from his experience at Mount Carmel a victor—the 450 false prophets of Baal were destroyed, and the calamity of drought and famine brought about by idol worship ended (1 Kings 18:18-46).  Regrettably, Jezebel did not share his enthusiasm over the victory—in fact, she was very angry (1 Kings 19:1-2)!  Instead of surrendering, as Elijah expected, she issued an ultimatum to him, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:3).   Elijah’s response is similar to that of many Christians—they observe God perform repeated miracles in their lives—then a bit of minor turbulence occurs and the downward spiral of the Elijah Effect sets in:

· The cycle of fear of others or specific circumstances begins (1 Kings 19:1-2).

· The logical reaction is to run from the problem (challenge), rather than facing it head-on

(1 Kings 19:3).

· Rather than meditating on God’s faithfulness, faulty negative thinking begins (1 Kings 19:4).

· The faulty negative thinking is fanned by emotional and physical fatigue which frequently produces discouragement (1 Kings 19:5-9).

· Further faulty negative thinking yields false expectations and unrealistic attitudes regarding the responsibilities God calls one to assume (1 Kings 19:10).

· These false expectations and unrealistic attitudes can lead to the cultivation of self-pity (1 Kings 19:14).

An intervention for the downward spiral of the Elijah Effect must be applied for it to begin the reversal process—in Elijah’s case, as in ours, the intervention cycle to renew his spirit included:

· Resting and relaxing—too many times when the Elijah Effect begins Multi-tasked Women increase their activity rather than reduce it (1 Kings 19:5-9).

· Seeking solitude to focus on communion with God (1 Kings 19:9-13).

· Using the Word of God as a sword to fight the source of discouragement, Satan (Ephesians 6:17).  Acquiring God's truth and promises during times of refreshment enables us to engage confidently in battle; for example, Psalms 33, 42, 43, and 71 teach us the hope we are to have in God.  Lamentations 3:21-23 describes the downcast man who nevertheless relies on the steadfast love of the Lord. The passage of 1 Peter 1:13-21 challenges us to proclaim the faith and hope we can have in God through Jesus Christ while Romans 8:18-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

· Realizing that refreshment comes through resuming activity since it allows us to focus our vision outward rather than “soaking and souring.”  Balancing the quantity of time invested and the intensity of the activity will ensure that the Elijah Effect does not recur (1 Kings 19:15-18).

· Allowing friends to minister to us (Proverbs 17:17).  It is well to remember that it is as important  to be a friend, as well as to find one and that we are to accept God's provision for relationships, rather than imposing our expectations.  A study of some of the noteworthy soul relationships recorded in the Scriptures—Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18:1, 19, 20, 23:16), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1-4), Paul and Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10; Philippians 2:19-22), and of course, Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-18). Elijah and Elisha possessed an unusual relationship—one in mind and purpose to serve Jehovah God; they built many memories together because Elisha willingly ministered to Elijah, offering encouragement and affirmation.  The loyal partnership that developed provided a companion to compensate for Elijah's discouragement—and when God was ready to take Elijah to heaven, Elisha succeeded him in his prophetic office (2 Kings 2:9, 13).  Their adventures to Gilgal (2 Kings 2:1), Bethel (2 Kings 2:2), Jericho  (2 Kings 2:3-4), and the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:6) are a reminder that memories require time and energy to create and pose the question, "What blessings would Elijah and Elisha have been deprived of had either refused to accept God's provision and perhaps mourned for his own expectations?"

As you consider Elijah’s life, are you a woman who chooses the Elijah Effect or embraces contentment when faced with circumstances that could breed discouragement?  Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain (Psalm 37:16; 1 Timothy 6:6) while despair plus discouragement equals spiritual disaster and purpose to detonate discouragement as you multi-task!