Tag: 1 Kings 19

I’m sure that I’ve heard Steven Furtick say something like this phrase during one of his sermons at Elevation Church.
As I was reading 1 Kings chapter 19, the thought “Winning, but, Worn Out”, just kind of came back to me.

It’s the time when Elijah flees to Horeb, after he had a great success against the prophets of Baal.

So many times in the past, as I’ve read this before, I’ve just been left thinking, how could Elijah get it so wrong, after such a great success??
Jezebel threatens him with a messenger, effectively saying, “I’m out to get you”, and he just runs, … after such a great success???
I’ve always struggled to understand why this happened.

Then the phrase “Winning, but, Worn Out” comes to me, then all of a sudden, it makes a bit more sense to me.

If a marathon winner, was asked to run another marathon, then how would that marathon winner feel?
As if they were a winner, but also a bit, or a lot, worn out??
Not at their best, to take on another marathon??
Probably finding themselves without the capacity to take on anything else at all, at that moment?
Might they even try to steer clear of, or avoid the prospect of another marathon, all together?

When I think of it in these terms, then all of a sudden, it doesn’t seem to be so confusing.

Have we all experienced something along these lines?
A time where we won or achieved something, but it cost us?
A time where we had the victory, but we were spent, at the same time, in need of rest and recovery?

God provides food and water for Elijah, by sending an angel to bake bread and supply a jar of water, which the angel does two times.
This is God’s response to Elijah’s prayer of, “I have had enough Lord, Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1Kings 19:4-8)

That probably wasn’t one of Elijah’s best prayers. 🙂 (It does sound like the words of someone who is a bit worn out, to me.)
But Elijah did seek God all the same. (Always a good choice to make.)

Thankfully, God meets Elijah’s needs, rather than pay any attention to his words. God provides rest and nourishment, for Elijah, at a time when he needs it most.

Then after a journey, Elijah meets with God, who then restores and encourages Elijah further, with the message that God speaks to him.
He is given instructions for what to do, and he is also told, that he is not alone, as he thought he was, and that he is also to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. (1 Kings 19:15-18)

God didn’t bring judgement on Elijah, when he was worn out and ready to give up.
God didn’t listen to Elijah’s words of, “I have had enough Lord, Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Instead, God gave to Elijah, the time out, that he needed.
It wasn’t a permanent time out though. Elijah went on to keep doing the work that God had for him to do. But at a time when Elijah was winning, but worn out, God provided the food and rest, that was needed, and Elijah accepted it.

If food and rest is given to us, from Our Lord God, then will we accept what is offered to us?
Will we accept the rest that is offered to us, in whatever form it takes?
Sometimes, doing the “right work”, can be a rest in itself. But at other times, an actual “Time Out”, might be needed?
Our best course of action is always going to be to “Hear and Follow the words of Our Lord God “

If we see someone who is “Winning, but Worn Out”, can we try to not be so judgemental about them?
Could we instead be part of a rest solution for them? (If Our Lord God directs us to be.)
Can we all do, what is being asked of us, so that we may then end up with less people being worn out and more people winning?
As we keep in step with, Our Lord God.

John 10:27
²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.