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Spiritual bankruptcy is something that happens a lot in our stressed-filled lives. We fight it, of course, by reading our Bibles and going to church. Sometimes we are spiritually depleted just as Elijah was after he ran for his life into the desert away from Jezebel. He collapsed under a broom tree, crying out for God to take his life. Remember, this was after he chided all the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth… after he spoke to God and asked for fire to consume the sacrifice… after he had 12 barrels of water poured over the altar soaking the wood and the bull.

Admittedly, it was frightening that Jezebel had murdered all of Israel’s prophets to make room for her own prophets of the false gods. But, doesn’t it seem reasonable that after such a spectacular show of God’s power and mercy at the prayer of Elijah that the people would have drawn closer to God, and would have honored Elijah? Instead, Israel, the land loved by God and Elijah became treacherous territory.

Jezebel sent him a message that she would kill him by the same time tomorrow. Why did she send the message? Why not just send the assassin with no warning? Probably because she enjoyed creating fear, and probably because she dare not try the people’s tolerance because Elijah has shown himself a great prophet and had been honored by God with a magnificent show of fire and rain. So she bullied him into running away.

He became despairing and depressed and wished for God to take his life. I’ve been there, haven’t you?

Elijah lay down and slept under that broom tree (1 Kings 19) and an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat!”

Just as the body becomes nutrition depleted, our minds and spirits become spiritually depleted. We must rest our bodies for our minds to be healthy. We must eat to restore our bodies, and drink to rehydrate them. Therefore, we must drink of the living water which pours out of God’s Word to refresh our spirits. Taking the cue from the physical body, we eat three times a day for ready fuel. Therefore, we should refresh ourselves in God’s Word on a daily basis to keep from a total depletion. Resting in Him is a must. There is no other way to ward off a downward spiral than to be still and know that He is God, to trust that He will absolutely take control of any situation if we allow Him to, and that He has our best interest in His heart.

But look at this: 1 Kings 19:7 Soon the LORD's angel woke him again and said, "Get up and eat, or else you'll get too tired to travel." 8 So Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk forty more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, 9 and he spent the night there in a cave.

The food that God prepared and the drink He provided sustained Elijah for 40 days of walking.

There is no end to God’s provision. The cup from God always overflows. He holds us up with His strong arm. He is our Rock and our Fortress and our Shield.

When despair hits, it is instinctive to get in that fetal position and to curl up in a ball, protection our inward parts. When we fret it is a lack of trust. Once we recognize that, then we take succor from Him, depending upon Him as a babe depends upon his mother. If we do not do this in a concerted effort, concentrating upon Him, looking outward and upward, then we are doomed to a cycle of depression stimulated by the selfish peevishness of introspection. Sometimes that kind of assessment can be helpful, but not if we are spiritually bankrupt.

When this happens, remember the times God has answered prayer, has given you a miracle, has taken your hand and pulled you out of the mucky-muck of life. Absolutely all Christians will have bloody noses and bloody knees, but never settle for less than God’s best for you.

Listen! Do you hear? It’s the still, small voice calling you to Him.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Washed by the Water of the Word