Had Enough!

Devotional

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’” 1 Kings 19:4

Yesterday we saw how the spirit of fear often gains entrance through the door of worry and anxiety. When these worries are not resisted with faith and truth, they can form strongholds in the mind, fortified lies that begin to feel truer than truth itself. Anxiety and depression are masters at crafting false narratives. They twist facts into hopeless conclusions and whisper: You are alone. You are finished. You will never get through this. Unless those lies are spoken back to and challenged with God’s word, they only grow stronger.

Today, I want you to see a profound truth in 1 Kings 19. After Elijah’s dramatic victory on Mount Carmel, calling down fire from heaven and seeing Baal’s prophets defeated, you might expect him to be overflowing with faith and confidence. Yet the very next scene tells a different story. Queen Jezebel threatens him, and suddenly the mighty prophet flees in fear. Exhausted, he collapses under a broom bush and prays for death: “I have had enough, Lord… take my life” (v. 4). That is the language of burnout: physical exhaustion, emotional depletion, and spiritual despair. This is real. Though Elijah’s story seems dramatic, bringing your true, unfiltered self before God, including your anger, despair, and feelings of abandonment, is okay. The psalmist cried, “God, where are you? Have you forgotten me?” (Psalm 22, Psalm 13).

Notice how God responded to Elijah’s despair. His first response was not a sermon but practical care. An angel brought him food and water and told him to sleep (1 Kings 19:5-7). That was the spiritual power of a nap and a snack! Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is address the physical imbalances that intensify mental distress. Body and soul are deeply connected. When you are down, prioritise rest, nutrition, and basic self-care.

The second thing is challenging the negative narratives depression and anxiety create. Elijah could not distinguish between fact and the false conclusions he drew. He said, “I am the only one left” (1 Kings 19:10, 14). It was his felt reality, but it was not true. God corrected him: “I reserve seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal” (v. 18). We must, with the help of the Holy Spirit and our community, speak back to the lies: “I am worthless. It will never get better. No one would care if I was gone” and replace them with God’s truth. Let the church love and support you, even when you feel empty. For those who are well, seek out and care for those who are struggling.

Elijah’s despair came from exhaustion, fear of his enemies, and the loneliness of leadership. He drew a false conclusion and it nearly destroyed him. When our own minds and emotions become unreliable, telling us we are worthless, powerless, and that the darkness is permanent, we must anchor our hope in Christ’s finished work. Stop looking inward for hope and start looking upward and outward. Just as Christ was physically raised, God brings our spirits to life when we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1, 5). The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is at work in every believer, giving us new life.

Notice again how God responds. He does not start with rebuke or a lecture. He ministers to Elijah’s body and emotions. He lets him sleep. He feeds him with bread and water. He gives him space to recover. And then, when Elijah is rested, He gives him the gift of companionship in Elisha.

So if you are struggling with despair, depression, or emotional exhaustion, let me encourage you: be honest with God. Care for your body. Challenge false thoughts. Allow the church to carry you. Seek help. And anchor your hope firmly in the finished work of Christ.