Young, old, rich or poor—nobody is immune to the feeling of brokenness. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection on earth is a constant reminder that death no longer has a sting. Fear and hopelessness lurk throughout the earth trying to find an opportune moment to consume your soul, but there is an eternal hope in which you can rest assuredly in today.
As you sit and reflect on the current state of the world, there is a decision laid out plainly before you. Choose to live in the reality in which Jesus lived and died on the cross to flip hopelessness on it’s head or succumb to the lies of the enemy.
We sat down with Troy Black to talk with him about what God has put on his heart for 2023. He feels it is an Elijah moment for the people of God, a word that will encourage you and uplift your faith.
Black shares three key moments in Elijah’s life that correlate to the church today:
- King Ahab and his wife Jezebel allowed the worship of Baal in Israel, and the people turned away from God. A drought came over the land, but the Lord preserved Elijah. God’s anger was provoked against Israel. God directed Elijah to go to Kerith brook where ravens brought him food day and night, and he drank water from the brook. “The Word says these things are written for us. God is saying, ‘I don’t miss one of my people’s needs,'” Black says.
- The second key moment is when Elijah went to Mount Carmel to challenge the prophets of Baal. It was an “all in” moment for Elijah. It was the standoff between truth and error and “God showed Himself true,” Black says.
- The third moment is after the Kerith brook dried up Elijah found Zarephath, the widow and her son. She was preparing the last of her food for her and her son before they died. Elijah asked Zarephath to feed him first. “I believe she is being led to do that in that moment by faith. God provides supernaturally for her,” Black says.
As you read these moments in Elijah’s life, are you willing to take a step of faith and trust that on the other side of that faith God is going to protect you?
“If you’re in a place of hopelessness, you need to go straight to the Lord. You need to get into the prayer closet, you need to get into the Word and don’t stop seeking the Lord until the Holy Spirit encourages your heart personally,” Black says.
It is in intimacy with the Lord that we find refuge. In intimacy, He hides us under the shadow of His wing. God understands all that you are going through and everything that you are up against in your life. If God can use the ravens to feed Elijah during a drought across the land, he can use the simplest most unsuspecting things to provide for you.
Tune in to the rest of the interview with Troy Black to hear what God put on his heart for Russia and Ukraine.
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
