Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10)
From the mountain peak to the deep valley below, we all experience what the prophet Elijah experienced from time to time. It’s called burnout. I know some Christians are not willing to admit it, because they have been taught to “Keep a stiff upper lip” and “Never let anyone see you sweat.” But clinging to such platitudes is as sad as it is silly. Because we have not yet been perfected — and we won’t be until we are received into glory — we will all go through “Broom Tree Experiences” from time to time. We will . . .
Become exhausted
Feel alone
Get depressed
Believe that we’re ready to give up
God had just used the prophet Elijah to defend His glory by defeating 450 prophets of Baal. But after taking part in one of the greatest victories in all of the Bible, Elijah came to the end of his proverbial rope because the pagan queen Jezebel sent word that she was going to have Elijah killed within 24 hours. Elijah fell into a false sense of failure and wanted to simply end it all and make the pain go away, “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die” (1 Kings 19:4).
God was having none of that! God met Elijah in his place of deep need and miraculously provided for his needs. Elijah needed refreshment and restoration, and God provided food — both physical and spiritual. As he slept under the broom tree, an angel of the Lord appeared and said, “Arise and eat!”
We have all had broom tree experiences. We have given our all in the service of God, and our “all” just didn’t seem like enough. We felt drained and depressed, and we lapsed into despair. Then God showed up! And He keeps on showing up every time we go through these seasons of struggle. When you find yourself sitting under the broom tree for whatever reason, remember that the Lord is with you, He is for you, and He is in you. And He is speaking the same words to you today that He spoke to Elijah: “Arise and eat!”
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 