Let’s be upfront; Week 23 almost didn’t happen. I have been fighting sickness and pain for several days. I feel weak and tired. Yet, the last two weeks have been some of my busiest days for ministry. I’ve done 6 live shows/interviews / Bible study sessions on top of my regularly scheduled life. I feel like I am constantly giving, but I’m not getting refilled or refueled. I’m running on fumes, and the smoke inhalation is choking me. God please clear out the smoke and fill me up or I’m not going to make it.

Have you ever felt like that? Completely overwhelmed and exhausted for the simple fact of living? It’s okay as a child of God to feel like you’ve had enough. The problem stems, when we don’t allow God to take care of us when feeling so down, tired or done.

Elijah was so exhausted from doing the right thing that he not only though to suicide, he actually voiced it: 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.” 1 Kings 19:4-5 ESV.

This powerful man of God did not only want to give up, but he wanted to just end his life. And God could have chastised him, but instead listen to what happens: 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 19:5-8 ESV.

First thing we see – This man of God who has been pushing and pressing with all his might to encourage people to follow the one true God, was being run out of town because he chose to do the will of God without compromise. And that kind of pressure can be so great it pushes people to the edge. For some, they don’t just talk about ending their lives, the actually do it. And if you have ever thought about taking your own life, PLEASE DON’T! Get help, here’s a resource for you: Call 800-273-8255 and talk to someone who has been trained to help you.

Not everyone can have a physical angel like Elijah did. But God has placed angels all around us to help us for this life’s journey. That is the second thing that we see. God does not expect us to keep going without rest and resources. When we get tired, it is our body’s way of telling us that we need REST! Ignoring our bodies will lead to a higher depression rate (check this article out).

Sometimes when we’ve rested and replenished our resources, in order to have the strength to keep going, we have to repeat the cycle to rest and replenish. Only then will God give us the OK to keep going. But no matter where we find ourselves God will never leave our side. And what He has in store for us, will blow all our worries out of the water! For if you keep reading Elijah’s story, you will see that God sent Heaven’s fiery chariots to swing and pick Elijah up. And the man who expressed suicidal ideations, never partook of death.

God wants to give us the same gift. The one where we never have to experience eternal death, but everlasting life in Him. John 17:3 Jesus said that we can experience eternal life right now, when we know Him and God the Father for ourselves.