"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." 1 Kings 19:5-8
I must be honest; the last few years have felt like a whirlwind. The loss of family members, the birth of children, celebrations, a global pandemic, and everything in between have left me flustered. I can imagine that I am not alone. And amid all the ups and downs of life, these pesky things called “goals” creep in to ignite me to try something new. Perhaps it’s the yearly goal of weight loss, the wrestling desire to finally balance my life, or the ministry that I know God is calling me to invest more in, but my ideas tend to outweigh my capacity. Before long, that thing that meant the most to me became lost in the shuffle. I have seen this happen so often in my life that at times I become fearful to even speak my next great idea aloud. Why start something that I will just quit…again?
Have you ever been there?
Have you ever known that God was calling you to something greater but felt so stuck and trapped in the anticipation of failure?
I believe more and more this is exactly where the enemy likes to keep us. If we remain discouraged, we will never be bold enough to try it again! We will fall for the great lie that we don’t have what it takes to accomplish God’s plans for us. Yet, if we look closely at the Bible, we aren’t the first to feel flustered by this emotion. I can imagine that Moses was exhausted from asking Pharoah to release the Israelites from captivity. One can only fathom that Noah felt his work was in vain after years of building a boat with no rain in sight! And let us not forget about Paul who traveled relentlessly to share the Good News of Jesus only to be thrown into prison. I am convinced that it takes grit, prayer, and sheer determination to keep going when it feels like life is continually knocking you down.
Even those who have had great accomplishments and who seek the Lord with all their heart can find themselves wanting to simply give up. In 1 Kings 19, we see this firsthand with Elijah. After an amazing victory against the prophets of Baal where God literally rained fire from heaven on Elijah’s behalf, Elijah finds himself so afraid that he wishes he would die.
"Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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. When he 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.'” 1 Kings 19:1-4
Yes! Even Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, felt so defeated he wanted to give up not just on a goal but his entire life! I am sad to say even though I have been in those moments where depression and anxiety overtook my heart that I felt this same emotion!
Yet, I want to lean into what happens next:
"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." 1 Kings 19:5-8
Elijah isn’t rebuked for having a moment of despair. Instead, he is comforted by the angel and given the food needed to keep going. God meets Elijah at his lowest moment and provides for his physical needs, reminding Elijah that he is not alone.
I want to encourage you as you read today to keep going! When you find yourself in these moments where life feels too overwhelming to bear, know that God can meet you in this place. I am a firm believer that He will give you the strength, resources, and courage to do everything He has called you to do. So, whether you feel like giving up on a goal or life has hurt you so bad that you struggle to even want to live, I want you to know God is with you!
Let’s pray!
Lord, I pray that you will be with me in the busyness of life. Sometimes, I find myself overwhelmed and frustrated. I know that you have also called me to do amazing things, to inspire others, and to live a life that will bring you glory. Yet, I need your help more than ever. God, will you speak to me and show me your plans? Will you reveal your heart for my home? Father, I ask that you strengthen me as you strengthened Elijah, Noah, Moses, and so many others. I need your help for each day that I live. Show me your goodness and help me to respond with faithfulness all the days of my life.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/FatCamera
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
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