The first time my toddler threw a temper tantrum was while I pushed a cart of groceries and had her brother in a swaddling carrier. Right in front of the cash registers, she used the aisle to flare her arms and legs like a snow angel on the floor. She proclaimed that the grocery trip needed to end. She was exhausted and had endured enough. Instead of getting angry at her behavior, I looked down, moved the cart around her, and stepped over her. I ignored her whining, but I recognized her needs. I looked back at her and said, “Come on. Get up. We are almost finished. You need to nap and eat.”
Elijah got tired, thirsty, hungry, and stressed out enough to whine to God (1 Kings 19:5-6). He declared directly that he wanted to die. He was physically and emotionally exhausted and tired of waiting for the people to turn their hearts to God. He also faced threats from Queen Jezebel, who wanted to kill him—which is why he fled to the desert.
God responded to Elijah by interrupting his whining—not with a grand proclamation, but with intimate care. God had Elijah take a nap and provided him with food and water. Elijah immediately went back to sleep. Later, God returned, had him eat again, and gave him extraordinary strength to sustain him as he continued his journey.
We all have those moments when we have had enough. When the burdens and challenges leave us feeling alone, exhausted, and stressed out. Sometimes, we are so steeped in our troubles that we can’t see the provisions God has laid before us. God doesn’t always reveal Himself in powerful, miraculous ways, but He does provide us provisions and strength.
God wants to restore your body and soul continually. Take time to nap and eat and notice how God sustains you.
Carmen Eicher tells stories about the Lord, everyday people, and a few pretend people through Christian fiction and non-fiction. She is a faithful follower of Christ. She took on the identity of a military child at birth and later became a military pilot’s wife and a mom of five. She is a redhead living a life full of unexpected adventures and often tells her husband she isn’t dramatic. She is just passionate.