You can probably reminisce back to a time when you were in school and had to prepare for a big test or exam. You studied all day and night to achieve a desirable outcome. You wanted that positive end result, so you put in the work to achieve it. When we produce results, we can see the payoff of our discipline, consistency and tenacity. Reaching results will not be easy, but it will be worth the journey. Whether we are continually practicing and critiquing skills throughout our careers or working on our faith—we can find that our persistence and dedication will be factors in achieving the results we long for.
In the Bible, we can reference Elijah as someone who struggled in finding the results that he hoped for. Elijah was sent as prophet to help the people of Israel to turn from their evil doings and rely on the Lord. On this journey, Elijah endured many hardships. He built an alter to show the people that the Lord was their true God. After this, his life was threatened and in danger. He then proceeded to the wilderness where he became overwhelmed and exhausted trying to guide Israel to the Lord. He begged God to take his life. Elijah became defeated by the fact that Israel had forsaken God’s covenant and killed prophets. In that moment, Elijah felt like a failure; he did not produce the results that he had desired for Israel. Subsequently, God tells Elijah that He will save seven thousand in Israel. Those that were faithful to God were able to escape. It looked like Elijah’s results were not going to come into fruition; but unbeknown to him, God had the final say over Elijah’s planned outcome.
God sees and acknowledges what you are working toward. When you become tired like Elijah, you can pause and give yourself time to recalibrate your thoughts. When Elijah had his moment of despair while in the wilderness, God was there giving him rest and encouragement. Though disappointed, Elijah bounced back and continued the remainder of his mission. Are you stopping halfway through your goal? There is so much more on the other side of your results. It took discipline for Elijah to step foot in his calling during that moment. It took consistency to show the people of Israel through the burning of the alter that God was sovereign over their lives. It took tenacity for Elijah to continue to live after he wanted to die. Reaching for the results and outcomes that we want in life will be difficult. There is power in our persistence despite the external factors we see. Imagine if Elijah did not get up and survive that moment of defeat. It probably would have been a very different result for Israel. Keep going; you will see harvest in your results. Just like Elijah, your results will bear fruit. The production of your fruit can multiple in the hands of God.
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” -1 Kings 19:18
“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:10
“For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.” -Leviticus 26:9
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