1 KINGS 19:4: “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down
under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life,
for I am no better than my fathers!”
George Sweeting related that the famous Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh once felt called to be an
evangelist. He had grown up in a Christian home and in 1878, at the age of 24, enrolled in a school
for evangelism in Brussels.
After graduating, he preached for a year. Then for reasons unknown, van Gogh forsook his call. In
1889 he began to paint like a driven man, finishing 200 paintings in two years. Then at age 37,
confused, impoverished and ill, he borrowed a gun and ended his life. He decided he had had
enough.
Elijah, too, reached the point in his life when he felt it was enough. Rather than commit suicide,
however, he asked God to take his life. But God had other plans for Elijah. He knew that some of the
prophet’s greatest successes still lay ahead of him: anointing the king of Syria and the king of Israel,
training Elisha as his successor, and miraculously crossing the Jordan on a dry river bed. Instead of
taking his life, God strengthened him and sent Elijah back to active duty.
I don’t believe suicide causes a Christian to lose his salvation, but it clearly cuts short the service a
believer can offer to the Lord. Since our rewards in heaven are based on the deeds of our lives right
now (2 Cor. 5:10), all missed opportunities will mean an eternal loss that cannot be made up.
Therefore, while life may become discouraging, it is always too soon to say, “Enough!”
Perhaps you feel like saying, “It is enough!” If not tempted to take your life, you may at least feel like
you no longer want to walk with the Lord. God understands, and if you place your life completely in
His loving hands, He can give you the grace to start over. Who knows? God may have the most
productive years of your life planned for your future.
OUR QUITTING POINT IS GOD’S BEGINNING POINT.