As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“When Bunyan personified despair in The Pilgrim’s Progress, he depicted it as a giant who battered his prisoners mercilessly. After the first round of beatings, Giant Despair visits his captives… and finds them ‘still alive, though barely alive at that. They could do little but breathe.’” - Desiring God
“When I do church consulting, I often encounter pastors who are just worn out… I usually learn that the battle had been ongoing long before I arrived to consult. Indeed, some of the following signs seem to be recurrent among wearying shepherds.” - Chuck Lawless
“He admitted that he knew ‘by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means,’ but he wanted his students and others to think it not strange when they were ‘for a season possessed by melancholy.’” - Chuck Lawless
“1. God has called you to this work…. 2. The Spirit of God lives in you…. 3. The Word of God is powerful…. 4 God will accomplish His plan….” - Chuck Lawless
Read Part 1.
Even God’s greatest servants may suffer extreme discouragement, as we are learning from a brief survey of the experience of the prophet Elijah. One of my seminary professors invented a name for his response to the threats he faced following his glorious victory on Mount Carmel—the Elijah Syndrome.*
I define the Elijah Syndrome as a combination of physical and spiritual fatigue, resulting in despair.
On Mount Carmel, Elijah experienced one of the greatest spiritual victories recorded in all of Holy Scripture. His triumph over Ahab, Jezebel and “the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah” (1 Kings 18:19) devastated the wicked king and queen.
“Sober-mindedness is essential for the Christian. This term means to be free of any illusion—to see things as they truly are. The New Testament contains numerous commands to be sober-minded” - TGC
“While 14 percent said they were ‘less confident’ in 2022, just 9 percent now say the same. Notably, these numbers are strong among both men (51%) and women (53%), as well as pastors over 45 (52%) and under 45 (50%).” - Barna
“Seasons of discouragement are inevitable for any gospel minister. It comes with the territory. But I learned something else in 44 years of pastoral ministry: the Lord uses seasons of discouragement as seasons of growth.” - TGC
“When asked, ‘Have you given real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year?’ 29 percent said yes in January 2021. A year and a half later, 41 percent said yes.” - Denison
Discussion