At this point in Elijah’s story, we find him in some of the darkest depths of discouragement and depression. And it might not make sense, because he’s come off of one of the biggest and most dramatic wins in the bible. This part of Elijah’s narrative can provide insight into how you can respond when you’re also feeling the depths of despair. When life is too much, and circumstances seem too great to bear, this passage presents a truth that you might not be ready to hear, but shouldn’t write off just yet—when you’ve had enough, God’s enough.

You’re perhaps familiar with the story of God’s incredible miracle from 1 Kings 18, with Elijah calling fire from heaven, destroying the idol of Baal. In today’s message, we look at that story from the specific angle of considering God’s faithfulness. The dramatic story shows us that no matter how often we hedge our bets by trusting something other than God—be it money, success, sex, power, or fame—God still works for us and works through us. May this Old Testament show-down between two gods reassure you that God is a god who won’t give up on you.

The story of Obadiah (not even the prophet Obadiah, but the Obadiah in Elijah’s narrative) is easy to overlook. It’s tucked away in the shadows between two of the most epic stories in the bible. Yet, this seemingly insignificant story exemplifies an important principle about how God operates. He does big miraculous things through his people, often in unexpected ways. This story provides a clear example of how—wherever God has you—you might not realize what God is doing with what you’re doing.

In the next part of Elijah’s story, God leads Elijah out of the land of Israel and asks what seems impossible. Elijah may very well call into question the provision he’s previously experienced. Like Elijah, perhaps you’re in a position of doubt; or perhaps you’re experiencing fear, anxiety, and worry that keeps you up at night. In these most difficult moments is when it’s most important to lean in and trust God’s truth. As teacher Andy Stanley said, God takes full responsibility for the life fully devoted to him.

Elijah’s story illustrates God’s provision to his people, a truth that still applies today. But, God’s provision doesn’t always look like provision in the moment. Sometimes you might miss it if you’re not looking for it. Sometimes, as in Elijah’s case, God’s provision is just plain weird. God doesn’t always give you what you want; he doesn’t even always give you what you think you need. But whether it looks like you’re expecting or not, God will always give you everything you need to do everything he wants you to do.

We’re called in the bible to work hard and work diligently, doing everything we do for the glory of the Lord. And it’s true—everyday tasks of our busy lives can be a beautiful expression of worship, and a way to serve the Kingdom of God. The working, the serving, the doing, and the going are good and Godly things; however, good can turn bad when it gets in the way of something better. If the good things filling your life are distracting you from Jesus, consider the story of Mary & Martha from Luke 10 to realize that sometimes, the best thing that you can do for Jesus is to be with Jesus.

As followers of Christ, God chooses to display his character through us. As a disciple of Jesus, you are the proof through which God reveals himself. This can be a daunting challenge during seasons of unexpected suffering, when darkness in your life seems thick, or when your circumstances cause you to question whether you can fully trust Christ. In these times especially, lean on the encouragement from Apostle Paul in Romans 5. Suffering leads to perseverance, character, and ultimately unshakeable hope. When life gets tough and too much to endure, keep going.

Matthew 2:13-23 is the often untold “second chapter” of the Christmas story. It’s the part where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt to avoid Jesus’s execution at the hand of a power-hungry King… The calm & bright of the Christmas story is shattered by the chaos of life, and the hope and promise of the manger feels forever away. The story reassures that Jesus’s experience is the human experience. The Messiah knows what it’s like to endure the messiness of this word. Jesus was a refugee; and he was homeless; he was betrayed by friends; he was falsely accused by authorities. Jesus understands your mess because he was born into the same messy world. So wherever you are and whatever you’re facing, you can find the Messiah right with you in your mess.

The circumstances of the first Christmas were not too dissimilar from the circumstances many of us may face today… The world was chaotic. The Israelites faced political and social oppression. Life wasn’t always easy. Right in the middle of the hopelessness, chaos, and helplessness, God sent Jesus—a savior for humankind, God with us, Emmanuel. This gift of Jesus spans across time for you today, too. Jesus is a gift of great joy, meant for all people. Every person you bump into on the street is a recipient of God’s gift. So spread the news—the good news of Jesus is a gift to be shared.

Romans 12 calls you to bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. It is a dangerous decision to take matters into your own hands by responding to evil with evil—in the moment, the fight seems so right. But when you respond with anything but love, the war will escalate, and the evil will continue. We’re called to break the cycle of retaliation, break the cycle of reaction, break the cycle of anger and irritation. While the normal response to injustice is to fight back and even the score, instead use love to confront the people you meet—impatient people, obnoxious people, people who make your life hard right now. Jesus wants you to give better than you get.