Strengthened by Scripture

There are a number of interesting similarities between the Old Testament prophet Elijah, and the New Testament “voice in the wilderness” that broke 400 years of silence identified as John the Baptist. Both of these men preached with power and conviction. Both Elijah and John the Baptist, at great personal cost, courageously confronted the wicked rulers of their day. Each of them warned against God’s righteous chastisement on the nation, if Israel refused to turn from their sins and back to the One True God. These were godly gutsy men. Elijah prophesied judgment to stiff-necked ancient Israel while John the Baptist preached repentance to bitter first century sinners. Further yet, it took real backbone for these men to publicly condemn the sinful behavior of the political powers.

However, these men weren’t all bravery and boldness; no, certainly not. Instead, the two men each had a period in their life filled with doubt, dread and discouragement. Though men mightily used by God, they were just mortal men. As one Bible teacher has noted, the best of men – are men at best. Both of these valiant warriors experienced not just astounding faith, but also crippling fear. Frankly, what was true of them continues to be true of God’s people today. These men are not unique in this struggle. I think it fair to say, every Christian alive today has times of faith-filled courageous behavior but also seasons of doubt and discouragement. Such is part and parcel of living in these broken bodies of clay on a fallen world. This life has a way of knocking the breath out of you. You can be like Elijah one moment, confidently confronting the false prophets of Baal, and then hours later running and hiding like a scared child. Or, like John the Baptist boldly declaring “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and then shortly later questioning if Jesus is who He claimed to be.

Don’t think just because you have come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you won’t still struggle with times of weak faith and nearly debilitating despondency. If it happened to the best of men, it will certainly happen to the rest of men.

However, what God used to comfort both Elijah and John the Baptist is the same means of grace the Lord continues to use to comfort His people today – His Word. As I said last week, thank God for faithful friends and the Lord’s churches that help support us at life’s most desperate moments. Yet as we also gently confessed, there is a limit to how much our loved ones can do for us. But God, nor His Word, is constrained by the finite limitations of mortal men: when loved ones have left us, when death has come, when our home has grown silent … Christian, there is somewhere you can turn to find true strength and lasting comfort – the Bible. God’s Word is the ordinary (though extraordinary) means of grace for every struggling saint.

What Elijah needed was not loud, gaudy displays of supernatural powers, but instead to hear the still small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12). In like manner, when John was in prison facing execution and his faith was faltering, what Jesus used to encourage Him was the Word of God (Matthew 11:2-6).

Dear believer, when you are hurting, when you are lonely, when your world has been turned upside-down, I point you to the Scriptures. When life has knocked you to your knees, open the Inspired page of God’s infallible Word to find strength for the struggle. I am not naively suggesting, simply picking up a Bible and reading is going to assuage your every ill. But I am telling you there is no greater means by which the Spirit of God can comfort the child of God, than by using the Word of God.

When you, like Elijah are facing despair … or when you, like John the Baptist have your doubts about whether Jesus is indeed the Messiah, I point you back to the Book. Candidly, where else are you going to turn? To Oprah? Dr. Phil? Or will you vainly try to lessen the loneliness with the paltry platitudes or empty cliches of fallen men? For example… the silly suggestion “God will never give you more than you can handle” is just absurd. Not only is it unscriptural, in southern slang, it’s complete hogwash! Of course, God will give you more than you can handle. How else would we come to grips with our own weakness and rely fully on His greatness?

Again, people mean well, but when faced with some calamity the worthless words of men carry very little weight. However, God’s promises are a sure anchor for the soul. Christian, find strength from the Scriptures. Rest in the unbreakable covenant commitments of God. As the old Gospel hymn says, stand on the promises of Christ our King!

Here are just a few verses to stir your mind: “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “And we know all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). And … as I still process the death of my mother, this verse is near and dear to my heart – “To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Nothing on earth can encourage the Christian as much as an abiding confidence in the Word of God.

Elijah was able to finish his ministry, confront God’s enemies and leave this earth on a fiery angelic chariot, but only after hearing the still small voice of God. The faith of John the Baptist was renewed as his mind began to pour back over the Old Testament page. Even though he was martyred for the cause of Christ, John faced death with full assurance that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

No matter what we face in life, or in death, we can do so, strengthened by the Scriptures.

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