July 25

“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” — 1 Kgs 19:10 BSB

There’s something very touching about this verse. Elijah genuinely believed he was all alone. He thought no one else in the land was still loyal to God. This made it even harder for him to carry on. Having companions strengthens us. In battle, it’s relatively easy to march and fight when you’re surrounded by others. But going out alone, old soldiers say, is a severe test of courage. It’s easier to be good, faithful, and diligent in Christian service when you have support. But it’s much harder when you have to stand alone, the only Christian in your family, workplace, or school. Yet many people find themselves in exactly this position. They are the only one in their setting who stands for God, and if they fail, God’s work in that place will suffer.

But Elijah’s story also shows us the value of a single faithful life. For years, Elijah was the only one who publicly confessed his loyalty to the Lord. Though he stood alone, unaware of any others who were secretly true to God, he stood firm and bravely maintained the honor of Jehovah in a nation that had turned away. As we read through his story, we see the impact of his faithfulness. He alone brought about a great reformation. Sometimes we find ourselves standing alone as the only witness for Christ in a particular place. But if we stand firm and do not falter, we will eventually see the triumph of what we stand for.