We have all thought it. Most of us, at some point, have voiced it. When the child refuses to sleep and the bills pile up and the car won’t start and you’ve been misunderstood.

It’s too much.

When one thing after another seems to go wrong and one child gets better just in time for another one to get ill.

I’m tired of it all.

When you get an unexpected financial blessing only to then have an unexpected financial crisis. And you’re thankful and frustrated all at the same time.

I’m done.

When the family drama goes on and on and on. When nothing seems to ever be easy.

I. have. had. enough.

And all God’s people said… No, seriously, God’s people really did say it.

Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough!… – 1 Kings 19:3-4 {emphasis mine}

I read this passage in my quiet time this morning and was reminded that there really is nothing new under the sun. No circumstance. No temptation. No feeling. Everything that you and I go through has been gone through before. So, when Elijah says, “I have had enough,” we can all nod our heads in complete understanding because we certainly know that feeling. That alone, however, is not very helpful. We can all get together and have a big ol’ pity party and we may find some comfort in not being alone. At the end of the day, however, when we are each lying in our beds – we need something more. At least, that was my thought. So, I read on.

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” – 1 Kings 19:5

Anyone else tempted to just lay in the bed when things are going all wrong? Do you ever just want to give up? Give in? The angel tells Elijah that he needed to get up and eat. The same goes for us. When we have had enough of the world, we probably have not had enough of the Word. Maybe I’m just self-preaching.

Your words were found, and I ate them. – Jeremiah 15:16 {emphasis mine}

Elijah gets up and he eats.

So he ate and drank and lay down again. – 1 Kings 19:6

I have done that. I have humored the Holy Spirit and flipped through a few pages. I have mindlessly looked over a few verses and then went back to my self-pity. I have fooled myself into thinking I had done my part. Thankfully, God does not give up that easily.

Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” – 1 Kings 19:7

One small meal – a little nibble here and there – is not enough for the journey.

 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” – Ezekiel 3:3 {emphasis mine}

If we want to have strength for the journey – if we wish to finish well – we cannot nibble on Scripture. We cannot snack on his Word. We must eat of his truth until we are full and we must do so over and over again.

If we fail to eat, the journey will be too much.