Listen

He lay down and slept under the solitary broom bush.

Then suddenly a messenger tapped him and said to him, “Get up! Eat something!” Elijah opened his eyes and saw flatbread baked on glowing coals and a jar of water right by his head. He ate and drank, and then went back to sleep. The Lord’s messenger returned a second time and tapped him. “Get up!” the messenger said. “Eat something, because you have a difficult road ahead of you.” Elijah got up, ate and drank, and went refreshed by that food for forty days and nights until he arrived at Horeb, God’s mountain.

1 Kings 19:5-8

Think

If you’ve ever ridden on a plane, you’re familiar with the line “put your mask on before assisting others.” If you haven’t, it’s an apt metaphor for today’s scripture. On an airplane, in certain situations of pressure changes in the cabin (where you sit), masks will drop from the ceiling to ensure proper oxygen for the passengers. In a crisis, many might consider others before helping themselves. But we can’t help others with their oxygen if we’re not getting the oxygen we need ourselves.

Elijah is asleep under a broom bush. He’s been so busy trying to proclaim God’s word, and fleeing for his own life, that he falls asleep and is wakened by a “messenger” (what in modern times we might call an angel).

I like to take this interaction as God’s acknowledgment of Elijah’s steadfast work and a reminder to Elijah that he must “put his mask on first.” Elijah cannot continue serving God without first finding the nourishment he needs.

Similarly, we cannot create space for others to feel welcome without first finding spaces where we feel welcome and, second, making time for our own recharging.

Daniel Potter

Question to Ponder:

Who or what helps you recharge when you’ve been busy helping others?

Pray

God of rest, help me today to take space to recharge. Provide space to reflect and the nourishment necessary to continue serving you. Help me find moments of rest and be rejuvenated to serve you better today. Amen.

Go

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.”

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” Refrain