Welcome to another edition of our guest post blogging series “Everyday Jesus!” Today’s guest blogger, Laura, is one of my great online gal-pals… Her writing is an inspiration– and today’s post is absolutely no exception! Be sure to show sweet Laura some love– both here at 7 Days Time and over at her place by leaving a comment. (Hint, hint, wink, wink…)
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Have you ever noticed that everything seems worse when you’re tired or hungry?
Think about it. You might not be having the best day, but it’s not awful. And then, as you go from meeting to meeting or run errands, you miss lunch. And what happens? You get cranky. Maybe a headache comes on. You lose your patience with co-workers or your kids. And your day has gone from bad to worse.
This was me a few weeks ago, but not because I missed lunch.
I did something to my back, although I don’t really know what. One minute I was fine. The next minute I sat down for dinner, and I felt something slip out-of-place. It was painful, but not awful.
Over the next few days, it got worse, until I could barely move. It didn’t matter what anti-inflammatory medications I took, or how long I kept the heating pad on, I couldn’t move.
The pain meant I wasn’t sleeping either. And it doesn’t take long for lack of sleep to catch up with me.
On the evening of the worst day, I was near “total meltdown” stage. (My family would say I was already well into “total meltdown” stage. So, don’t ask them.)
I prayed for healing, but instead, I slept.
God knows.
He knows our basic human needs. And He knows when they’re not being met.
Everything seems worse when we’re tired or hungry…or in Elijah’s case, both.
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
1 Kings 19:3-5 NLT
I’ve never actually had to run for my life, but I’ve been at the end of my rope like Elijah.
God, I’m tired of this. I can’t do it anymore.
Maybe you’ve felt that way before too.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
1 Kings 19:5b-6 NLT
I imagine Elijah would’ve liked God to do something about the people who were trying to kill him. But instead, God gave Elijah rest and food.
Not just once, but twice.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
1 Kings 19:7-9 NLT
Everything seems worse when you’re tired or hungry.
God knew that before Elijah could think clearly again, he needed two basic needs met—sleep and food.
Aren’t we the same today?
When the lack of sleep took me under, the pain in my back was out of control and I couldn’t focus on anything else. But after a night of rest, I was able to think a little more clearly.
I was still in pain, but God met my basic need of sleep. And later that day, I could feel my back start to relax.
We want to get right to the result—problem solved.
But sometimes, God wants us to see something else first.
He wants us to see Him in our everyday basic needs.
And with that clearer vision, we can see Him at work in our end-of-my-rope moments.
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Laura Rath is a follower of Jesus Christ, a wife, mother, writer, blogger, and works in church ministry. She continues to grow daily in her relationship with God and loves the faith journey she’s on. Laura is a monthly contributor for 5 Minutes for Faith, and hosts an online Bible study, using books relevant to women today. She can be found at Laura Rath ~ Journey in Faith, where she shares from her heart and encourages others in their walk with the Lord. You can also connect with her via Facebook or Twitter.
