This past week, I had the privilege to provide meals for a group of teens and adults from Texas and Tennessee who were up here to do some mission work. It was a great experience serving them, building relationships and networking, but it also doubled my work as I had many other responsibilities to fulfill during the same period. As much joy I was experiencing, I found the last couple days challenging as my energy levels bottomed out. I found it hard to get motivated. Even this morning, with everything “done,” I found myself having to drag myself out of bed.

I’m not sure how many of you have felt that way… so tired and weary that you just don’t feel like moving? Even after doing all the “good” things like serving, preaching, teaching and building relationships, it is easy to feel “worn out.” And for some, this can lead to desperation and even a sense of wanting to give up.

Life can be very overwhelming. We are being pulled from multiple directions by the needs of our families, commitments of our work, assignments for school and our own desires. There is also an enemy out there who presses the buttons of our lives seeking to distract us and cause us to sin. The daily grind makes it easy for us to give up.

In the Old Testament, there is the story of Elijah, the prophet of God. Elijah was a tower of strength, combating the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and challenging the people of Israel about choosing God’s ways. Like winning a championship, he was probably on top of the world with each victory! I mean, God came through whenever Elijah asked. Wouldn’t all of us be excited too?

After that epic battle with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, something changed. The very next day he lost all hope in the face of Queen Jezebel’s death threats and ran for his life. In 1 Kings 19:4, it says, ‘Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he could die. “It’s too much, LORD”, he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!”

So what happened? He had just celebrated a great victory for God and now he was cowering in fear? What Elijah did was he took his eyes off of God. Jezebel’s threat distracted him from where his focus should have been.

But the great lesson here is God doesn’t abandon us when we feel this way. Despite his feelings, Elijah was still in a close relationship with God and God heard his cry and sent an angel to supply his needs. Now I wish I could say his pity party ended there, but sadly it didn’t.

Later, he told God how lonely it was to be the only one in the land serving the Lord. How many of us have every had that “pity party” where we focused on ourselves? In his plight, God gave him the name of three others who were to help him and revealed that there were seven thousand others who were still true worshipers.

It reminds me of the prophet Isaiah’s words in 40:27. He wrote, “Israel, why then do you complain that the Lord doesn’t know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice?” Like Elijah, the people needed to know more about the nature of their God and His power. I think that is what happens to us when we get overwhelmed. The words, “cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you” lack substance because we don’t fully believe them or trust that God will come through.

Isaiah says that God names each star and created the entire universe. Jesus tells us that God numbers the hairs on our heads and is concerned when a sparrow falls. God, our heavenly Father, cares about the weak and tired and promises to give strength to them. Again, as Isaiah records, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

So I want to encourage each of us today that God is faithful. We can trust Him with everything and in every situation. If we are weary, He will give us strength. If we are distraught, He gives us peace. If we are afraid, He give us courage. Trust Him… like with Elijah, He always comes through.