“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life … 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”
1 Kings 19:3-5a
Looking at the context of Elijah’s life, ministry, and work … it appears that he was worn out. The days (weeks) that led up to his, “I have had enough, Lord” statement were intense, exhausting, and physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. He had hit bottom, let fear get hold of him, and simply ran to hide.
Probably like you, I can relate.
I’m not sure where we get the idea that our energy is limitless. Like the Energizer bunny, we just keep going on and on and on. I’ve noticed that it can be easy to get addicted to “the ministry” and even to lose our focus for Jesus.
“If we string ourselves out, expending 100% of our time and energy, there is no way we’re able to adjust to an unexpected emergency. We become defensive about our expended energies because there isn’t anything left to give. Having nothing in reserve, we tune out the need.” (Pastor Louis H. Evans, Jr.)
The Personal Laws that we all have to live with:
- Limits – we are not limitless. We are limited; only God is limitless.
- Rest – we are created to build rest, sleep, and recreation into our lives. (Rest is normal.)
- Priorities – we have the ability to choose our priorities in life. Remember, if we don’t prioritize our lives, someone else will.
The following seem to be what the Bible asks us to prioritize (in the following order):
- Our walk with Jesus
- Our marriage and family
- Our work
Dr. Richard Swenson, MD, tells us; “The quantum of emotional energy is not fixed but instead is in constant flux with the environment. We are always losing energy into the environment and receiving energy back again. Sometimes the reservoir is being drained, as when we are sad or angry. Other times the reservoir is being filled, perhaps by expressions of encouragement or activities successfully completed. No matter how large or small the quantum of emotional energy is at the start of the day, and no matter how fast or slow it is exchanging with the environment, one thing is certain; the amount within us is finite. No one has an infinite capacity for emotional discharge. When our reserves are depleted, they are depleted.”
What do you do if you’re under too much pressure and you feel you can’t endure?
That is where Elijah was, and I would suspect that many people you and I know have been there. (Possibly you’re there right now.)
The prescription for Elijah was rest. It is similar for us today:
- Rest, sleep, vacation, a day off, getting away from our ministry for a while, living a balanced life: “He fell asleep” (1 Kings 19:5).
- We need God’s supernatural provision to sustain us. “An angel touched him” (19:5).
- Eating the right foods for nourishment gives the energy our body needs. “Get up and eat” (19:5).
- Continuing to rest so that that our body and emotions can regain their strength. “He lay down again” (19:6).
There are experiences, involvements, people and situations that take energy. Our work can be draining because it seems we never catch up with all that needs to be done. Also, many of us develop what experts call “compassion fatigue” (we care so much that we give away all we have).
God’s calling on your life includes His enablement to make healthy choices and the knowledge that He will never ask you to do anything that he will not provide the means to do.
His desire is that you are “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:11).
Always your friend!
Dr. Wayde