It’s easy to give up. Have you found this to be true? When things begin to cave in on you, it is easy to think the worst and look at things pessimistically. I have been guilty of this in the past.

I have a friend. He loves God and stands against evil. The people about him do not like it because he speaks the message God wants others to hear. The sad fact is, however, that these people want a life of ease. They want to live like all the people around them and still hold on to a piece of God. That cannot happen.

This bothered my friend so much that he challenged these people to follow God. He took them to a mountain and let the false teachers work their work and try to please the god they serve. It was to no avail. Then he prayed to his God and the people were amazed and turned to follow the true God.

However great that triumph was, a woman decided to have his life taken from him. This was all he could take. He ran away ready just to lay down and die. That would have been the easy part. But God was not through with him yet. He took care of him and showed him He had others ready to serve. At this he arose and was faithful to God.

The friend I speak of is the prophet Elijah. His story is recorded in 1 Kings 18 and 19. I encourage you to read that to realize these facts:

1. God is in control. God defeated the prophets of Baal that day, false prophets that were leading His people astray.

2. God cares for you. At the lowest point of his life, Elijah was strengthened by God. Birds took care of Elijah, he had water to drink, and he came to understand the good he was actually doing.

The next time you find yourself with your chin on the ground, realize God cares for you in the same way He did for Elijah. The next time you hurt thinking there is no reason to live on, remember Elijah. The next time you feel God is not working in your life, think of Elijah and watch God’s good work He will perform through you. Don’t give up!