I can’t keep going. I can’t.
You’ve probably been there too. And we have lots of company: Job, Elijah, and Jeremiah, for example.
On Mount Carmel, the Lord dramatically showed He is God and Baal was not. Elijah then slew the prophets of Baal. This was an awesome demonstration of God’s power and confirmation that Elijah was His prophet.
But then Jezebel threatened Elijah and Elijah ran for his life. He asked the Lord that he might die. “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).
Elijah decided he could not go on.
Here are some things to think about
1. Ask yourself: “Should I keep going?”
Is this what God wants you to do, or it is something you concocted?
If it is what God wants you to do, did you embellish it? Are you doing more than He asked? For example, did He ask you to make dinner, but you decided to cook a gourmet five-course meal?
Did you set, for yourself, an unreasonable time frame?
Make sure you’re working on God’s plan and not your own.
2. Ask yourself: “Am I telling myself some lies?”
Elijah did. Elijah told the Lord he wasn’t any better than his fathers. Later he said: “I have been very zealous for the LORD… And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10).
Elijah did not reflect on the recent events of Mount Carmel.
He was wrong that he alone was left. The Lord told him He had 7,000 in Israel.
Are you telling yourself some lies? For example:
I can’t do this.
No one cares.
God doesn’t care.
Lies, anxiety, and worry are strength sappers.
3. Ask yourself: “Am I physically exhausted?
You might be, and, if so, you need to get some rest.
Elijah was exhausted. He ran from Jezreel to Beersheba (more than 100 miles) and then went another day’s journey into the wilderness. And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree. Food (provided by God) and a rest helped him.
Without proper food and rest, “the journey is too great for you” (1 Kings 19:7).
Are you eating well? Are you resting?
I know finding a time and way to rest may be a project of its own, but rest is essential.
4. Speak truth to yourself.
When we’re hard pressed, it is easy to focus on the negatives and forget God’s glorious promises.
We have to take care what we listen to (Mark 4:24).
Remember:
God does care. He loves you so much His Son died for you.
You DO have what it takes (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:13, 19; 2 Peter 1:3).
5. Look further ahead
Don’t focus entirely on the tasks in front of you.
We do have a race to run. It takes endurance. We should fix “our eyes on Jesus… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).
This is a great opportunity to learn to rely on God (2 Corinthians 12:9) and to learn to be content in your circumstance (Philippians 4:11).
6. Take time for God.
Make sure you are in His Word. Make sure you are praying.
It is God who comforts the depressed (2 Corinthians 7:6-7).
God can’t refresh you if you aren’t in His presence.
7. Remember: the Lord is coming!
