‘Rest’

Daily Devotional March 1st

“Elijah lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, ‘Get up and eat!’ He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:5-6)

Elijah was utterly spent. He had just taken on the prophets of Baal and now was running for his life from the murderous queen, Jezebel. He was experiencing complete exhaustion—he wasn’t just physically tired, but was also emotionally drained. He lies down to sleep, not only ready to call it a day, but a life. Before his eyes close in sleep, he asks God to end his earthly life; he has been obedient to God and now recognizes his own inability to be able to muster up…anything.

Elijah wants to die, but God knows what Elijah needs—a good sleep and a full stomach. He refuses the request to end his life. God still has much work for Elijah to do, but knows his physical needs must first be met. In the middle of his sleep, an angel awakens him with fresh baked bread and water. After his meal, Elijah once again falls asleep. Some time later, the angel reappears with more food and water. Elijah eats again and with his physical needs now met, he travels forty days with no additional food to the mountain of God and is now once again prepared to live on in the service of God as his prophet.
​
Maybe, like Elijah, you are finding yourself exhausted and ready to give up—on a relationship, on a job, on life. Before you make any quick decisions, do what Elijah did. A good rest can change our perspective drastically. And God doesn’t condemn us for taking care of our physical needs. He never compartmentalizes us into social, physical, emotional and spiritual domains. He created each of these to work together. He knows our needs better than we know ourselves. Many people are finding themselves incredibly stretched as the pandemic has reached its first year anniversary…it’s a long time to try to stay on high alert. Need some down time? Schedule some in. God knows you need it because He still has work for us to do, and He wants us fresh!
~ Pastor Jane