I Kings 18:4
‘while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”’
This was a bad time for Elijah. He had been a brave spokesman for God. The royalty blamed him for the drought. That might have been a political ploy. They may have known they were at fault. They didn’t harm or threaten Elijah then.
After he killed the hundreds of prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened him and he fled. He is depressed. I would assume the whole scene with the calling down fire on the sacrifice, the killing the prophets took much out of him. In that state of exhaustion, he gets threatened. That pushed him over the edge.
We all our areas that we’re sensitive to. We all reach the stage where we get worn out. ‘And He (Jesus) said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)’ (Mark 6:31). Even Jesus needed rest.
God gave us the sabbath to rest. He built that into the week communicating to us that rest is a regular part of our week. This was so important to God that He modeled it for us on the seventh day. Our minds and bodies need that rest.
David said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me”, (Psalm 5). God is with us in those times. Maybe especially so. These can be times of temptation, as our defenses are down. Pray, “Keep us from temptation.” He’s in us and beside us.
We don’t know when these times will hit us. When they do it’s to late to prepare. The best idea is to have a strong walk with God during the calm, so when the storm comes, we are prepared. He can still save in the storm, but it’s better to have Him always. Jesus said in Matthew 7:25-27, “And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
We all deceive ourselves and think we’ve got time to get right with God. It’s best to get right now. We don’t know if we’ll have time.
I can look back and see those tough times. Some were a week long, others were longer. In all He brought us through.
Lord, help us to stay close to You always. Thank You for being with us in the storms. Your salvation is great.