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Elijah—a case of burnout
A part of me wishes to be able to experience the dramatic power of God—fire raining from heaven, people dramatically healed of deadly diseases,
transported the way Philip was, etc…
To the extent I struggle with faith, it seems to me that one such
experience would be enough to keep me going, keep me praying, keep me
hopeful and confident of God’s power…
Story of Elijah. Chapter 18 in a nutshell.
Then we come to Chapter 19. He is threatened. And at this point he
crumbles, he collapses. He says, “It is enough” to God. “Kill me now, God.”
He enters into a depression: fear, solitude, hopelessness, sleeping, little
interest in food…
He shows up at Mt. Horeb. God asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” I.e,
God has been directing his movements for several years, but this move was
Elijah’s idea.
Elijah’s response: “I alone am left.”
Why does Elijah suffer from depression, especially after such a great
victory, seeing so clearly the power and vindication of God?
o Elijah has been so faithful, as he is well aware, and he doesn’t think
that he deserves to have to flee for his life from Jezebel.
o Elijah experiences a great victory, but not everyone is excited.
Urbana==> talking with parents and things are no different. The result of
this power encounter, as encouraging as it was, was not all Elijah had
hoped for. He had hoped that he could stop running from those trying to
kill him.
o Elijah feels his alone-ness acutely: he thinks that he is the one person
keeping faithful to the Kingdom of God. He thinks he is all there is—he
sees no one faithful around him.
Two idolatries in this story: the people who worship the idol Baal; and
Elijah, who idolizes the dramatic event. Elijah was being obedient in the
Mt. Carmel display, but he was trusting in the great display of God’s power
to save him, not in God himself. He was trusting in a specific picture of
what salvation and hope would look like, not in the God who backed that
hope.
How can we do this?
o We take evangelistic risks with our friends, sensing God’s call. Yet they
don’t respond the way they thought they would, so we get discouraged and
doubt God’s existence, power, or goodness.
o We take steps of faith based on a promise from God, but in the short run
it seems that the promise isn’t kept, or no dramatic results come.
What is God’s way of dealing with Elijah’s burnout?
o It is interesting that God doesn’t say, “Elijah, you need to rest. You
have been persecuted so much recently, no wonder you are tired. Yeah,
just stay here and rest a while…”
o On the other hand, God is not impatient with Elijah. He loves Elijah and
wants him to come out of his depression. But he is not harsh or short
with Elijah.
o God says, “Go, return,” and then gives Elijah something to do. He invites
Elijah back into the ministry, renewing his sense of vision. “Anoint
kings who will accomplish my purposes.”
o God gives Elijah a partner: Elisha is called into partnership with
Elijah: He is not alone.
o God reminds Elijah that he is not the only one left in Israel. That was
Elijah’s mis-perception. As a prophet, he saw many things clearly, but
his acute prophetic vision blurred his sense of reality. God must remind
Elijah that many have not bowed to Baal, and also that God knows who has
and who hasn’t. No detail is beyond God’s control.
What is God’s message for us when we experience burnout or depression:
. We aren’t alone—God is with us and he has given us partners, to help and
encourage us. God gives Elisha to Elijah as a partner, but still Elijah
must take the initiative.
. God reminds us that reality is not as bleak as we think. We are not
without resources, help, and eventual vindication. Our perception needs
to change—we must see God larger and our problems smaller.
o God reminds us that he is not always in the big splashy events and
happenings. Just because we haven’t seen people healed does not mean we
haven’t seen the power of God or experienced his grace and healing touch
in our own lives. God calls us in the midst of the quiet to rely on him
and to press ahead with his purpose for our life: to love him and love
others.
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