“[Elijah] came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD. Take my life….’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.”
1 Kings 19:4-5
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, like you just couldn’t take it anymore? Life pressed in, troubles multiplied, and coping was hard. I recall lying down to sleep one time because I was looking for escape from a difficult relationship. I drifted off and had a dream that somehow showed the situation being resolved. As I awoke, I felt great release in my spirit.
I can only imagine how renewed Elijah must have felt when an actual angel of the Lord came to him in his sleep to bring comfort and hope. He had been on the run from the wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He knew the Lord and His mighty hand, yet Elijah despaired of life. He wanted to give up. Depressed and exhausted, he fell asleep while an angel came to bring him nourishment. When Elijah awoke refreshed, he heard the voice of God speaking to him.
We don’t have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We have One who cares for us, meets us where we are, and does not turn away when we don’t measure up. He will grant much-needed comfort to help us on our way.
I can only imagine how renewed Elijah must have felt when an actual angel of the Lord came to him in his sleep to bring comfort and hope. He had been on the run from the wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He knew the Lord and His mighty hand, yet Elijah despaired of life. He wanted to give up. Depressed and exhausted, he fell asleep while an angel came to bring him nourishment. When Elijah awoke refreshed, he heard the voice of God speaking to him.
We don’t have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We have One who cares for us, meets us where we are, and does not turn away when we don’t measure up. He will grant much-needed comfort to help us on our way.
Scripture Focus
1 Kings 19:1-18
Insight
“We lay before Him all that is in us, not what ought to be in us.” (C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, 1964)
Bible In A Year
- Job 15-16
- Psalm 50
- Luke 13
