Elijah too was just a man. He was not super human. He was not beyond what any of us are. He was human and had human emotions and experiences same as you. I am so thankful this small snippet of his life is in the Bible and written as it is.
How many of us have said to God, “Lord I am tired,” “I just can’t take anymore,” “Lord please give me a break.” And what was God’s solution? Elijah fell asleep. Rest. He put that man to sleep twice and even took care to make his food for him. God didn’t just provide some food for Elijah to prepare himself, He sent an angel to prepare his food for him because He know Elijah was overworked, overstressed, and needed grace.
Maybe other people don’t think you have a reason to be overworked. Maybe you get criticized for even showing that mentally you are out of it. Perhaps there is spiritual warfare in your life that is taking the energy out of you for regular everyday stuff and you know if you voice it to anyone they are not going to understand it. They won’t make the connection to what that has to do with you being tired OR do the holier-than-thou thing and quote scripture at you as if that is supposed to prove to you to why you should not feel the way you do. Instead you just walk away feeling guilty and discouraged.
Has anyone else ever experienced this?
Don’t you miss the comfort of seeing Thanksgiving break getting close rand closer? That four day long time of nothing but good food and couch time? Christmas break was a few weeks, and Easter you’d get a week, even the little ones like the three day weekends or smaller holiday breaks were nice. They felt more comforting to know that you could physically look at something like a calendar and know relief was coming. Every day you got closer and could see that break- that time of relaxation was almost to you. Whatever you were struggling with at school was going to be put on hold and for a brief moment you’d get peace. You could even decide to take that time to start over if you wanted to. To resolve yourself to come back renewed and refreshed after the break and begin afresh. Begin with a different attitude or dedication.
Did Jesus truly die for me to work myself to death? I’m not trying to be funny here, but I have met people who truly do not believe in vacations or think recharging for a week is a waste of time. I have a hard time buying into the idea that as Christians the Messiah wants us to be workaholics. Does he not promise relief? Do you ever wonder when your relief is coming? Do you ever take the time to slow down and look at the person beside you and think maybe they are just as tired as I am? Maybe they are just as discouraged in this existence as me?
Wasn’t it a nice feeling when the breaks came in school and everyone knew everyone was exhausted so grace was extended and given across the board because we were all suffering together? Why is that such a hard things to do now? Thank goodness Jesus did not say “come to me all of you who have it all together and earned rest.” Thank you Jesus, that you did not say, “come to me all of you who have X- amount of PTO and I’ll take your burdens.”
No. My Jesus, who knew what it felt like to be tired physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, said to me, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
