"Keep Doing Good"

Elijah saw a great victory of God over the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:38-39), yet when his life was threatened by wicked Jezebel, he fled a day's journey away and prayed for God to take his life, seeing himself and his ministry as a great failure- saying "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4). Job was a man described in the Bible as "blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." Yet, after losing his possessions, his adult children and his health, this righteous man became miserable. And although Scripture says Job did not blame God but said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord," Job had become so weary with life, he wished he had never been born. Jonah was a prophet called by God to go to Nineveh and proclaim to the people there to repent. But Jonah tried to flee from the Lord and God sent a large fish to swallow him. Jonah finally obeyed after the fish took him there, but was deeply discouraged God had showed mercy on the Ninevites and had not destroyed them. God caused a plant to grow and shelter Jonah from the sun. And Jonah was happy… until God caused the plant to die, then Jonah felt the hot sun and the wind and was so depressed over this he wanted to die (Jonah 4:9). These men each had witnessed the power of God, and each had become discouraged and weary when events did not turn out like they had wanted. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." When believers hear this verse, we think of Jesus calling to the lost to come to Him in faith for salvation. But there are many reasons to feel w