Spiritual R & R

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

  

Christ followers know that Kingdom work can be challenging and exhausting! Often, you can come away from your service for Him feeling completely wiped out. That very thing happened to a well-known Old Testament prophet, Elijah. Right after his victorious encounter with Jezebel’s prophets on Mt. Carmel, his exhilaration gave way to hard work and death threats, and soon, he was fleeing for his life. When he finally stopped running, he was exhausted, all alone, and discouraged.

God visited Elijah again. It wasn’t in a spectacular fashion like he experienced on Mt. Carmel. There was no fire sent from heaven. But God’s presence was fully there—just in a calm voice. Elijah was removed from service for a period of time. He needed rest and restoration.

Mission accomplished! The next we see of him, he was rejuvenated and refocused; he was on track to complete his assignment from God.

Are you unable to focus on your assignment because you are overwhelmed, fatigued, discouraged? God has comfort for you just as He did for Elijah. Listen to His gentle voice through these words of His Son, Jesus:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. (Matthew 11:28-29 from The MESSAGE Paraphrase)

God knows exactly how to encourage you—strengthen you. Let Him do so.

And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (1st Kings 19:14)