January 24, 2022
When You Feel Like Giving Up
Suzanne Eller
Today’s Truth
Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you” 1 Kings 19:7 (NLT).
Friend to Friend
“I’m done,” I thought, as I stared at the ceiling.
It was the end of a long day. I was in an unfamiliar bed. My feet hurt.
Honestly, none of those things were the issue. The truth was I loved what I got to do in ministry. I was thankful for the woman who opened her home to me. My feet would feel better in the morning, especially if I chose more comfortable shoes.
The problem was that I had come to the end of myself.
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah is called by God to deliver a message to King Ahab. When that message is questioned by the King, Elijah invites him and 450 false prophets of Baal to join him on Mount Carmel. There, he asks the prophet of Baal to pray to their gods that fire would come from heaven and consume a sacrifice. They prayed to no avail.
Elijah then asked for 4 large jars of water to be poured out over the sacrifice. As he looked to heaven and prayed, fire came down and consumed the sacrifice. Shortly after, the long-awaited rain came to a dry and barren land.
Sounds great, right? Except there’s more to this story. Elijah returned home and, in the next scene, we find him depleted, anxious, and ready to throw in the towel.
That’s when an angel appears.
Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you” 1 Kings 19:7 (NLT).
There was no reminder of what had taken place just a few days earlier. There was no rebuke. The angel simply reminded Elijah that he needed to stop and fill back up. There was no doubt that Elijah would continue his work.
But he needed to rest, to restore, and fill back up before taking one more step.
When I look back at that moment where I came to the end of myself, I am thankful God met me there. Rather than chastising me for my thoughts of giving up, I was reminded that I was never asked to do this in my own power.
I had three choices: 1) I could keep going. 2) I could give up. 3) I could fill up.
If you’ve been running after God’s calling – whether as a mom, a grandparent, a friend, ministering to people in your neighborhood, your church, or your community – and you are tired from the inside out, don’t beat yourself up for being human.
Just as you have shown up to encourage others, your Heavenly Father is your advocate. Instead of giving up, it’s time to fill up. That might be physical rest. That might be eating a good meal. That might be a break or time alone with God. For most of us, it’s all these things.
And here’s the most beautiful news of all. That beautiful work will still be there after you’ve filled up, and you will have what you need to keep going.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I’m tired from the inside out. I somehow think that if I stop to fill up, I’m failing, but it’s not failure. It’s wise. Today, instead of giving up, I’m slowing down to fill up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What might it look like for you to fill up?
If you’ve been pouring out creatively, perhaps you need to take time to create just for the fun.
If you’ve been pouring out spiritually, find time alone with God to bring water to those dry places.
If you’ve been pouring out with people, perhaps it’s time to take a walk, hike, or read so you can take a deep breath and rest your thoughts.
Whatever you need to fill back up, schedule a time to do just that on your calendar.
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© 2022 by Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.
Originally published Monday, 24 January 2022.
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