Are You Wallowing in Self-Pity?

PRAY OVER THIS

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”  1 Kings 19:4

PONDER THIS

Elijah had taken his eyes off the Lord. He basically said, I’m no better than other people. Somehow, evidently, he had thought for a while that he was better than other people. It seems he believed he would be immune from difficulty and persecution. As a result of these wrong expectations, he drank from the intoxicating cup of self-pity. Jezebel had just made a promise to him. Jezebel was a wicked queen of Israel who was married to the wicked king Ahab. Jezebel had determined to behead Elijah. In this moment, he was on the run expecting the worst.

We may question if Elijah really wanted to die. Had he really been set on ending his life, all that he needed to do was stay near Jezebel and let her fulfill her threat against him. Whatever his true intention, we see that he was wallowing in self-pity. What Elijah needed at that moment was not encouragement in himself or his situation, but encouragement and trust in the Lord.

• What connection is there in your life between self-pity and losing focus on the Lord?
• In what area do you need a reminder of who God is?

PRACTICE THIS

Go for a prayer walk today. Focus on ways you can praise the Lord. Seek to pour out worship to Him without making requests during this time.