And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
I Kings 19:10, 14.

The bravest and most faithful of God's servants have times of discouragement. Elijah was no exception. When he stood on Mt. Carmel, he was called upon to face the false prophets alone. God gave a great victory. Now the prophet is being opposed by wicked Queen Jezebel, and the fatigue of the past events has caught up with him. At perhaps his lowest moment, Elijah felt that he would be better off dead than alive. The man of God is struggling emotionally and spiritually.

Have you ever felt that you have been asked to carry more than your share of the load? Have you thought that perhaps your burdens or trials were more difficult than others? It can happen to any of us, and it can be a spiritually dangerous place to be. Elijah illustrates how the "AM I THE ONLY ONE?" syndrome can manifest itself in anyone. In reality, there were thousands of others who were remaining faithful to God and had not bowed their knee to Baal.

Few people in the Bible could be considered more faithful to God than Elijah was. No one would question his zeal and commitment to the Word of God. He was willing to stand for God and against evil, believing in his mind that no one else was standing. We should always be faithful to the Lord, even if we think at the time that we are the only ones. Because our family or friends are not standing true to God is not an excuse for us to let down in our loyalty. It may very well be that God wants to use our steadfastness to motivate and encourage others.

There were times when Paul had to stand without any human support. Of course, our Savior is the greatest example of how someone can stand alone. However, as alone as we may sometimes feel, the reality is that usually there are others who are at their posts. Feeling that we are "the only one" can lead to spiritual pride and discouragement. The truth is that we are never alone. Though we may feel that way, God is always with us. Our standing faithful in times of difficulty is evidence of the grace that He is giving us. Don't be discouraged, but be thankful for the grace to stand and serve, and for the other unseen servants who are remaining faithful.

Smith