“It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life… And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”

—1 Kings 19:4–5

Many of us know the shock of finding ourselves in a valley when we expected a mountaintop. Fatigue sets in. Discouraging news arrives. A familiar sin resurfaces. Circumstances converge, and faith quietly gives way to fear.

Elijah’s collapse came when his focus shifted. He began to view God through his circumstances instead of viewing his circumstances through God. Fear was magnified, faith was diminished, and peace evaporated. Fixated on Israel’s unfaithfulness, Elijah slipped into self-pity and isolation, convinced he was alone. Exhausted and despairing, he fled to the wilderness and prayed to die.

Yet God did not rebuke His servant. He drew near. Before correcting Elijah’s thinking, the Lord cared for his weakness—providing rest, food, and gentle presence. Then, in a quiet whisper, God revealed Himself afresh and graciously restored Elijah to his calling.

The same is true for us. God may allow us to feel how weak we are, but He never abandons us there. When self-pity whispers that our best days are behind us, the gospel declares otherwise. In Christ, God does not discard weary servants; He renews them. Jesus meets us in our exhaustion, bears our failures, and supplies grace for the road ahead.

If you find yourself in the desert, don’t settle under the broom tree. Lift your eyes to Christ. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6). Be refreshed by His presence—and press on in the strength He provides.