Wait On the Lord When You’re Tired and Discouraged

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Have you ever had one of those days when you were tired and discouraged

and felt like quitting? It can happen to anybody!

Some people never fully recover from those low times and sometimes make

decisions that destroy their futures. While nothing lasts forever,

including difficulty, there are some things you can do to get back on

top when you’re tired and discouraged and feel like quitting.

First—remember the prophet Elijah, for his life tells us that even

spiritual giants can get tired and discouraged and, at times, feel

like quitting. The Bible tells us of Elijah’s bout with the blues in 1

Kings 19. May I refresh your memory? Scripture records Elijah’s battle

with 450 prophets of Baal. He stood alone—a bulwark of courage and

faith. Fire fell from heaven and vindicated the faith of that mighty

man of God. However, the next day, Elijah didn’t make a very good

show—he was physically tired, and his weariness gave way to

discouragement. In fact, he couldn’t even handle one woman—a godless

queen by the name of Jezebel. Confronted by her, the prophet ran for

his life and told God he was ready to quit.

The life of Elijah tells us that there is a relationship between the

physical, the emotional and the spiritual. When Elijah became tired

and discouraged, he forgot some pretty important things—just as you

may have done. He forgot how God had met him in bygone days, how God

sent ravens to feed him at Cherith; how God sent him to Zarephath

where he miraculously brought the widow’s son back to life. He forgot

how God consumed the false prophets with fire. And it is possible that

you too have forgotten some pretty important answers to prayer in your life.

When Elijah was tired and discouraged, he ran as far as he could and

then crawled into a cave. There God found him and the fireworks

started. First came a wind, then an earthquake, a lightning flashed

across the sky, and finally the still small voice of God asking,

“Elijah, what are you doing?” So the next time you feel like crawling

into a cave of gloom, listen for God’s still voice saying, “What are

you doing here?”

Second—when you’re tired and discouraged and feel like quitting,

remember Jonah, who had the bout with the great fish.

There are lots of Jonahs today who walk the streets of every large city

in the world—men and women to whom God says, “Give me your heart,” but

they turn and run as far as they can go. Their lives are filled with

games, songs, cars, electronic gadgets, and so forth. They are like the

captain of a ship who turned to a navigator and said, “Where are we

headed?” The reply came back, “I don’t know, sir, but we’re making

very good time.”

Perhaps you are one of those who is making good time going nowhere.

Jonah’s life tells us real happiness comes only by doing the will of

God. God’s promise is sure, “They who wait upon the Lord will renew

their strength, they will mount up with wings as eagles; they will run

and not be weary; walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Finally, don’t give in to despair when you become tired and discouraged

and you feel like quitting. There are times when we all feel like

that. David, though, found an answer. It was simple: “Wait for the

LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

This, friend, is the answer that you need when you’re tired and

discouraged and you feel like quitting.