We have truly entered into a season of promotion and advancement. The enemy is seeking to shut down many of the prophetic voices in this hour because of the tremendous breakthrough and promotion that is upon us. Many are in the middle of facing their own storms and trials, but the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear; rather, He has given us power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Showdown on Mount Carmel

Some may feel as though the natural response to these trails would be to run and hide, but I clearly hear the Lord saying, “Come out of that cave!”

I am reminded of a story about Elijah, recorded in the book of 1 Kings. There was a showdown on Mount Carmel between King Ahab and Elijah. Ahab had abandoned the Lord’s commands and had chosen to worship the god Baal. Elijah had a heart that burned for justice and truth; he summoned all of Israel to decide who they would give their allegiance to: the Lord, or idols? He asked the question to the people, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). But the people said nothing.

Elijah called forth the 450 prophets of Baal. He then said to the people, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

The prophets of Baal prepared their sacrifice. They danced around, cut their bodies, and chanted, hoping that their god would hear their cries and set fire to their altar. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah called out to the people. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Furthermore, Elijah covered his altar with water to the point of overflow. There was no way that his sacrifice would catch fire, unless the Lord stepped in.

And He did.

After Elijah cried out to the Lord in prayer, the fire from heaven “fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). That day, all of Israel knew that the Lord of Hosts was the one true God.

But there’s more to the story. Shortly after Elijah’s great victory, “Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done . . . So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (1 Kings 19:1-3).

When [Elijah] came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by” (1 Kings 19:3-11).

Reinforcements Are Coming

There are many in this hour who have cried out like Elijah, saying, “I have had enough, Lord,” but I am here to speak hope to you today and tell you that your best days are coming! I believe the Lord is sending reinforcements to strengthen you for the journey ahead, even as He did with Elijah by sending the angel to him. The journey has been long, and the battle has been intense. However, even in the trials, the Lord is saying, “Come out of that cave; I am sending you the help that you need. You will not die, but you will live and proclaim the goodness of the Lord.” Truly God is strengthening you for greater things, even amidst the storms that you are facing.

Beloved, this is not a time to retreat or back down. The Lord is training your hands for war (Psalm 144:1) and causing your feet to walk upon high places. He is calling you forth; with God before you, who can be against you?

Rest and Refreshing

I sense that the Lord is imparting rest and refreshing to those who have become battle weary. Rest is a form of warfare. As you enter into God’s rest, He will fight your battles for you and lead you into a reason of refreshment. As Moses told the Israelites, “the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:14).

Double Honor and Vindication

I want to take the time to encourage and remind you that you are passing through to the other side. I feel that the Lord would say, “As you pass through this season of testing, I will restore you to a place of double honor, blessing, and vindication. Even now I am preparing a table of feasting for you in the very presence of your enemies (as it is written in Psalm 23), and I, Myself, will be your Defender.”

Take heart, weary ones. The Lord is on your side, and He is great in battle. He is bringing you into a place of victory, rest, and peace. Watch, as He fights the battles for you. For it is written, “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12). Have the courage to come out of that cave, for the Lord shall have victory in the battle!