1 Kings 19 tells the story of a prophet who was exhausted emotionally, physically and spiritually. He was staring Satan in the face and had just had a face to face confrontation with him (1 Kings 18). The victory that God gave was decisive; the temporary personal outcome was that Elijah collapsed under a juniper tree (broom tree in newer translations).
If you've been in church for very many years, you've likely heard a sermon or lesson on this passage, but it bears repeating. It's a passage that I mentally return to on a fairly frequent basis. It's not because I necessarily like stories of burnout, but I can relate. When I was in Bible college, I landed in the hospital and then the school's infirmary for about a week because I had collapsed. The only things I remember in the very short spells of wakefulness that week are eating a few bites, having my IV changed or getting shot with more vitamins. I've had several instances since then when I was coming close, but am learning to recognize the symptoms and listen to their warnings; lack of motivation, waking up feeling more bagged than when I laid down, pessimism about life, muscle weakness, inability to concentrate or remember simple things (like the other day when I couldn't remember how to write a cheque)... the list goes on. I could simplify it and call it depression, go get some meds and somehow get through it. When the cause of that depression is total exhaustion, it's time to stop by the juniper tree.
When Elijah was that spent, what did he do?
- He slept
- He ate nutritious food
- He drank water
- He accepted the ministry of an angel
- Guilt himself into more hours praying
- Read more of the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament)
- Push himself to keep going
- Fast
- Close himself off from help
- Try to deny it
- (...Add some more out of your own experience)
No comments:
Post a Comment