Tuesday: God is with us in the "I can't evens."

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4  

"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.'"

Ugh……can you relate?  Just feeling totally cooked?  (that’s what the kids say these days). Elijah was in full-on “I can’t even” mode.  His expression of despair under the broom tree is a raw and honest acknowledgment of reaching the point of exhaustion and defeat. This moment paints an accurate picture of spiritual, mental, and emotional burnout, when the weight of expectations becomes unbearable. Elijah's plea to God underscores the importance of bringing our struggles into the open and entrusting them to God's compassionate care.

Any time we open the Word, we can be reminded that the people in here are ordinary….just like us…with real issues.  Elijah’s prayer is familiar to anyone who has reached the end of their strength—feeling inadequate and overwhelmed by challenges. It shows us that it's okay to express our deepest fears and inadequacies to God. He is patient and attentive to our cries for help, offering assurance that our cries do not go unnoticed. Elijah’s experience is a reminder that God's presence comforts us even when we feel most alone and discouraged.

Trust God in the I can't evens:  

Jesus demonstrated reliance on the Holy Spirit during His earthly ministry, retreating to lonely places to pray during overwhelming moments. Like Him, we can trust the Holy Spirit to refresh and strengthen us inwardly as we lay our burdens at God’s feet.

ACTION STEP:  When you feel like giving up, take a moment to write down a prayer, bringing your honest feelings before God. Allow this act of surrender to start the healing process.

Prayer: Lord, I cling to this passage today…….  2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Help me to remember that your strength is perfect when mine is gone.  

Song:  “His Strength is Perfect” by Steven Curtis Chapman. His Strength Is Perfect (Live At Studio C, Gaither Studios, Alexandria, IN/2018)