An Elijah Complex

Ever had an Elijah complex? Elijah was a 9th century prophet in Israel during the reign of King Ahab. At the darkest hour, God sent him to confront Ahab. There had been no rain for three years in Israel. Elijah had encountered the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel and killed all 850 of them before praying for rain. Ahab rushed to tell Jezebel with Elijah running along side. Jezebel’s message to Elijah was, “You’re going to die!” Elijah sat under a broom tree and “prayed that he might die. (I Kings 19:4)” Elijah made three symptomatic statements and added an additional statement in verse 10, all describing an Elijah complex:

• “It is enough.”
• “Take my life”
• “I am no better then my fathers”
• “I alone am left.”

Before the chapter is over there appears a cure for an Elijah complex. God told Elijah to get back to doing what he had been called to do. I have discovered when I am doing what God called me to do – no more and no less – I don’t have to worry about the Elijah complex. How about you?