Tenacious Tuesday: Lessons from Elijah
On this Tenacious Tuesday, I’d like to share some reflections on tenacity, drawn from the life of one of my favourite biblical figures Elijah.
Elijah was no ordinary prophet. He was known for his boldness, courage, and unwavering tenacity, the ability to stick to God’s word and mission even when every sign told him to give up. Sometimes, the Christian journey is exactly that: holding on when letting go seems easier.
Let’s look at 1 Kings 17:1–7, where we first meet Elijah. This passage contains powerful principles that continue to speak to me, and I pray they’ll encourage you, too.
Principle One: Obeying God Even When It’s Hard
In verse 1, Elijah boldly declares to King Ahab that there will be no rain or dew except at his word. In an agrarian economy, water was everything, just as vital as oil is to us today.
Now imagine this: Elijah, a prophet with no army, no political power, is sent to declare judgment to a king who could have him killed. And yet, he obeys. Why? Because he was tenacious in following God's voice, even when the message was hard and dangerous.
Elijah’s word leaves the king with no options. It’s a stark reminder: both Elijah and Ahab heard a word from the Lord, one obeyed, the other rebelled. True tenacity isn’t about comfort; it’s about courageous obedience.
Principle Two: God Always Provides When We Obey
Elijah’s obedience didn’t leave him abandoned. God told him to hide by the Brook Cherith, where he would be supernaturally sustained. Twice a day, ravens scavenger birds known for selfishness, brought him food. He drank from the brook.
This part always amazes me. God used unlikely, even unclean, sources to bless Elijah. Sometimes we expect our blessings to come in neat, predictable packages, but God reminds us: if we trust and obey, He can use anything to provide for us.
Tenacity means staying tuned in to God’s voice, even when the methods of provision don’t make sense.
Principle Three: Earthly Blessings Are Temporary
Eventually, the brook dried up. The ravens stopped coming. Did Elijah do something wrong? No. It simply meant the season had shifted.
God didn’t want Elijah to settle in a temporary place. The blessing was not meant to last forever, it was just for a season. And once the season was over, it was time to move on.
Sometimes we cling to old blessings, old methods, or old assignments out of comfort or routine. But true tenacity means moving when God says move, even when the provision has dried up. Don’t confuse the provision with the Provider.
Tenacity Requires Sensitivity, Not Stubbornness
What I’ve learnt from Elijah is this: tenacity isn’t just about endurance, it’s about listening.
There is no wisdom in clinging to an expired season simply for the sake of perseverance. God gives us assignments for set times and purposes. We must be willing to let go when He says let go, move when He says move, and speak when He says speak.
Being tenacious means staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit, not just surviving but discerning.
As you go through this week, I encourage you to ask yourself:
Am I obeying God's voice even when it’s hard?
Am I trusting His provision, even when it comes through unusual means?
Am I willing to move when the brook dries up?
Tenacity is not stubbornness. It is spiritual sensitivity combined with unwavering obedience.
Be tenacious. Be obedient. Be blessed.
