Baggage Claim — Unzipped - Monday
Today’s Verse
1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (ESV)
The start of college wrecked me in a way I didn’t expect. I thought I was just tired. I was taking classes, commuting, working part-time, doing all the “adult” things I thought would give me purpose, but I felt completely disconnected. Every conversation felt forced. I wasn’t sleeping well. Everything annoyed me. I’d lose it over small stuff like my laptop freezing, group texts I didn’t feel like answering, even Chick-fil-A being closed on Sundays (as if I didn’t already know that). I thought I was stressed, but it was more than that. I was angry. And underneath the anger, I was deeply sad.
The sadness/anger combo is brutal because it builds up quietly in the background. You try to push through it until something small triggers a meltdown. That’s what happened to Elijah in 1 Kings 19. After a very visible response from the Lord brought him victory, he promptly received a death threat from Jezebel and absolutely crumbled. He runs, sits under a tree, and asks God to kill him. As today’s verse shows, Elijah essentially says, “I’ve had enough.”
To me, that feels like despair. That’s rage turned inward. It’s what happens when you expect a breakthrough and get a breakdown. I’ve been there, and I’m sure you have too.
What’s wild is that God doesn’t scold him. He doesn’t say, “Pull yourself together.” He sends an angel who tells Elijah to eat and rest. That’s it. Just food, sleep, and time. Elijah couldn’t realistically recover emotionally or spiritually until he recovered physically.
God’s response tells us something important: emotions aren’t always the problem. Sometimes, they’re indicators that you’re overwhelmed, burned out, maybe even disappointed. God didn’t rebuke Elijah’s emotions or punish him for having them; He met him where he was, while Elijah struggled with them. God does the same thing for us if we allow Him.
REFLECTION
Have you had any “I’ve had enough” moments recently? Is sadness hiding behind your frustration? Be honest with the Lord in prayer about what you’re truly going through.
