In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
March 10-11, 2007 - A Strange Time for Fear - 1 Kings 19:1-4
Normally, we think of fear in terms of failure. We tend to become afraid when we experience a major setback and feel inadequate. Or, we may be shaken when we make a big mistake and think there’s something wrong with our judgment. These are the times when we would almost expect fear to strike, right?
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah demonstrated a radically different attitude when he experienced one of the most dynamic victories in all of Scripture. Armed with only his unflinching faith in the Lord, he faced down 850 false priests. God moved mightily and destroyed the idolaters, bringing glory to Himself throughout Israel.
But right after this confrontation, when his faith should have been at its strongest, Elijah became scared. In 1 Kings 19, the prophet learned that the evil queen Jezebel had called for his death. Apparently forgetting God’s mighty victory just moments before, Elijah ran away. How could this be?
Elijah’s story reminds us that our failures may not pose the greatest danger to spiritual growth after all. Potential for destruction may actually lie hidden within our successes. When our confidence is at its peak, we can sometimes turn our eyes away from the Giver of strength. Instead, we focus on ourselves.
Your victory is always in God’s hand. Don’t be fooled. He may work in, around, or through you to accomplish His purpose. But it’s always His victory. Have you been distracted by success? Turn your eyes back to God. All praise, glory, and freedom from fear are His.
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