“I’ve had enough. I’m so done. No more.”
Have you ever said these words—or at least thought them? You’ve tried your best, but your best wasn’t good enough, and now you’re burned out and ready to just quit.
Throw in the towel, take off, bale, get out, call it a day, jump ship—there are so many ways to describe this devastating feeling that many of us experience.
Even Elijah, one of the mightiest prophets and miracle-workers in all of scripture, told God he was fed up and done with his calling. After the biggest victory of his life against evil, Elijah found himself running for his life from a wicked queen. Just when he was on top of the world, it caved in on him. In fact, he was now hiding in a cave.
So here comes God with a great self-reflective question: “Elijah, why are you here?”
Elijah didn’t even answer it. Instead, he told God how dire his situation was. In his fear and despair, Elijah also couldn’t think straight. He told God that he was the only prophet left in the world. The truth was that there were at least 100 prophets in hiding.
Anyway, why did it matter how he ended up where he was? What mattered to Elijah was that he felt exhausted, burned out, inadequate, unappreciated, afraid, and alone.
And that is often what matters to us. When we feel like Elijah, we know we’re not where we should be, but we can’t and don’t want to try again.
However, the splendid news is that this account of Elijah reveals how God renewed Elijah just where he was. God didn’t expect Elijah to pull himself up by his sandal strings and head back to work. Instead, he showed Elijah the way back from being just-so-over-it. He met Elijah’s needs, just as he can meet ours when we have nothing left to give.
God’s Remedy for Being Really-Done-With-It
1. Replenish
The first thing God did was send an angel with food to Elijah, who then ate and slept and then ate and slept some more. As my mother used to tell me, “You can’t keep running on empty.” Sometimes we end up at Wit’s End because we’re just plain exhausted and need to stop and recharge.
2. God’s Presence
God told Elijah to stand at attention before him because God’s presence would come to him in a whisper. If he wasn’t attentive, he might miss God.
How often do we declare we’ve had enough of our job—and then also act as if we’ve had enough of God as well? When we’ve got nothing left to give, we may forget that God’s generosity is still with us. Perhaps we wrongly don’t ask God for help because we’re too upset to care.
What did God say in his whisper to Elijah? I doubt that God comforted him by correcting his wrong thinking about the number of prophets. The scriptures don’t tell us what was in the whisper, but when Elijah heard it, he knew he was in the holy and loving presence of God, and he covered his face with his clothing. Who can stand in the majesty of God and fear anything of this world?
We, too, can experience the same healing presence of God when we turn our focus to him. We don’t even have to tell him what we need. Often, we may not even know, but God knows.
I like to shut my eyes in a quiet spot to help me focus. I take some deep breaths and think about resting in God’s love and being immersed in his wonderful light, letting all other concerns simply fade into the shadows.
Here are some words from the Bible that speak of God’s love for you. Substitute your name for the pronoun you as you think on these words:
God planned for you. God made you in his image. God has a purpose for you. God treasures you. God designed you. God encourages you. God protects you. God comforts you. You are joined in sorrow by God. God continually seeks your good. God sacrificed himself for you. God strengthens you. God understands you. God listens to you. God loves you. God delights in you. God rejoices over you.
Let these truths warm your heart and fill you with love for the one who loves you most. Then just sit in silence and rest in this love.
3. A Purpose
God gave Elijah a reason to get out of the cave. He told him what needed to be done next. Like Elijah, we may also need a new purpose to help us come out of hiding. You might turn your thoughts toward those who may would benefit from your work.
4. A Friend
God told Elijah to anoint Elisha as the prophet he would disciple and mentor to someday take his place. Elijah now had Elisha to stand with him. We, too, shouldn’t try to do life on our own. Burnout is the time to reach out to true friends.
Where are you right now? Whether you’re reaching the end of your rope—or the mountaintop of victory, remember God’s recovery plan was there for Elijah and is there for you as well.
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