The End of the Rope
Elijah should have been on a high. The Lord had used the prophet to prove in front of the entire nation of Israel that He was real, and as a result, a three-year drought brought on by the punishment of the Lord ended.
Even though he had everything going for him, Elijah felt defeated and alone. Queen Jezebel, who was even more wicked than her husband Ahab, vowed to kill Elijah. Jezebel’s threat took Elijah from triumph to despair.
The prophet escaped to the wilderness, where God provided two things for him: rest and sustenance:
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
1 Kings 19:4-8 (ESV)
On the mountain, God listened to the prophet and revealed Himself to Elijah.
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
1 Kings 19:9-13 (ESV)
That “still, small voice,” as some translations refer to it, explained what Elijah’s next steps were and prepared him for what was to come.
Maybe you’re there. Maybe you’re where Elijah was. You could easily find yourself at the end of our rope, ready to give up. Ready to fall apart.
Sometimes the best thing you can do in those situations is to not give up. Trust in God. Rely on His comfort and wisdom to hold you up when you don’t think you can. He can and will sustain you.
Remember Jesus’ words:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)