Wow, that’s quite a title! What in the world am I talking about?
Recently, I have been in, and continue to be in, a time filled with ministry projects, opportunities, victories and challenges. I was reading during my devotional time a couple days ago in 1 Kings 18-19. Amazing couple chapters focused on how God worked in and through the prophet Elijah. There is a huge confrontation between King Ahab, Queen Jezebel (her name just sounds evil, doesn’t it?), their 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (these are on one side), and then there is Elijah, the lone prophet of God on the other side. I know, it’s not a fair contest, cause you know the story… false prophets can’t get their sleepy, vacationing false gods to show up, whereas the one true God fires up the altar and all around it. Elijah then delivers rain for first time in three years, and it seems clear that God and Elijah are in cahoots.

About this time, you’d think Elijah would be so pumped he could hardly stand it. But Jezebel threatens his life, and Elijah comes undone. He runs into the wilderness, sits under a broom tree, and prays that he could die, feeling utterly useless and defeated. Depression sets it big time. He falls asleep (common when depressed). An angel wakes him up, feeds him, he sleeps more, angel wakes him, eats more, and in that refreshing he runs for 40 days and nights all the way to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God. There he has a unique encounter with the glorious and almighty God, who manifests himself in a gentle whisper. Elijah shares his complaint with God, feeling all alone and futile in ministry. God listens, encourages him that he is not alone, but that there are 7000 who have not bowed to Baal, and then tells him to get back to work as he is to begin training Elisha, his successor.

So as I’ve been thinking about this story, it occurred to me that fatigue and depression can easily set in following big ministry ventures. How should we handle this when it comes?
1. Take care of your body – eat, sleep, do what you need to refresh yourself physically.
2. Share your heart with God. He can handle it, and understands. Meet with him, then listen to him.
3. Continue in the work He’s called you to. Just get busy instead of moping “under a broom tree.”
4. Draw near to God’s people, recognizing you’re not alone.

Press on, my friend, in the strength and encouragement of the Lord!
Eric