“I know thy works, and thy toil and patience…” (Revelation 2:3, ASV).

Elijah was tired and discouraged. He had seen God’s power when He raised the widow’s son and defeated Baal’s four hundred and fifty prophets at Mount Carmel. But now Jezebel threatened to kill him. It seemed the whole world had gone to pot, especially God’s children, the Israelites. Elijah was so discouraged that he sat down under a juniper tree and asked the Lord that he might die. He said, “I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (I Kings 19:14).

But God knew better. Twice He sent an angel to give Elijah food and water that he might eat and gain strength. Then God spoke to him and said, “Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

Satan was Elijah’s enemy, and he is ours, working very hard in our world to discourage us and keep our souls from our God. But God assures us that Satan will not win. “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” Jesus said in John 16:33. “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world,” John reminds us in 1 John 4:4.

Although we may be discouraged, we have no time and no reason to give up. Thousands are still loyal to God, giving up earthly comfort and being persecuted when they tell about Him. Thousands are working daily in God’s kingdom to tell the story of Jesus. The schemes of Satan do not matter. The work is great, but the reward is greater. There is no contest, for God has all power, and He will win.

Hymn: “I Want to Be A Worker for the Lord”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes it seems that Satan is winning in our world, but we know that You are King, and we are victors through You. Help us to always look to You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Donna Wittlif, Denver, Colorado
Donna’s new book Finding Her Heart has just been released.
Find it at bit.ly/2KSffeV.