Burnout
| 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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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 tree 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 a cake of 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. (1Kings19:3-8) |
Elijah is burnt out from a long ministry run. Having stood firm against an evil king, calling down fire from heaven and praying for the end of a long drought, he cracks when a sharp-tongued evil Jezebel threatens his life. He's alone, in the desert and at the end of himself.
Some of us have been there.
God is so incredibly, beautifully gentle with Elijah.
- Sleep, blessed sleep.
- Food, simple and uncomplicated, provided by an angel, possibly the angel (pre-incarnate Jesus).
- More sleep and more food and profound quiet and simplicity.
- And simple uncomplicated exercise - a rhythm of daily walking.
- And then, on Horeb:
- a still small voice to penetrate the clamour of earthquake, wind and fire.
- a renewal of purpose/mission/vision
- an assurance that we are not alone
What about us?
Are we burnt out and at the end of our tether?
Overwhelmed by earthquake wind and fire?
Exhausted and Spent?
What do we need?
- Sleep, simple food, simple exercise
- A rhythm of simplicity
- An encounter with the still small voice of God, a renewal of vision, and fellowship
We can't all take forty days, but one can get a taste of this over a weekend.
- Sleep two hours extra each night(the best way is to go to bed earlier without our gadgets)
- Eat simply
- Exercise gently
- Go to Horeb (church) with an expectant heart.
- You'll hear God
- Your purpose will be clarified
- You'll connect to community
