I've Had Enough

How many times have you found yourself saying, “I’ve had enough Lord”? I have said that many times because I felt like I just couldn’t take one more thing- and then it seemed like more just kept coming.

Elijah in the Bible also said “Enough” to the Lord. In 1 Kings 19:1-8, we read the story of his coming to the “end of his rope.” Jezebel had sent word to Elijah that she was going to kill him because she was angry that he had killed 450 prophets of Baal. Elijah after hearing that took off running for his life and went to the wilderness. He sat down under a tree and said, “It is enough; now O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”

Now here is a strong man who loved the Lord and had given up. Elijah had just proven that his God was the one true God through the fire of the wet altar, had the prophets killed then went and prayed for rain and God sent the rain to a place that was in dire need of rain. This man had had an incredible day with the Lord, now here he is scared saying “enough.”

Elijah decided he just wanted to at this point die and wanted God's help. He decided to go to sleep (most likely hoping he wouldn’t wake up) and God comes to his rescue with an angel. An angel appears to Elijah saying, “Arise and eat.” Elijah looks and sees a bread cake baked on hot stones and a jug of water.

He decided to eat it and then proceeded to lie back down. The angel comes again and says, “Arise, eat because the journey is too great for you.” So, Elijah got up ate, and drank and that meal strengthened him for 40 days and 40 nights as he went to Horeb the mountain of God.

Many times, we can feel like we’ve had enough and were done- were just too tired and perhaps scared. God though says to us constantly “Rise up.” He tells us in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Isaiah 40:24-31 tells us “He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary and the young man shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 41:10 says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee be not dismayed: for I am they God., I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee: yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Elijah knew the power of God- he had just experienced the hand of God in his life. He though got scared, ran, and gave up. He didn’t even ask the Lord for help- just for help to die. Perhaps we would have done the same thing- perhaps we already have. This story teaches us many things:

1. God never gives up on us.

2. He listens to us whine and complains.

3. He’s always right on time with his provision and it's always abundant.

4. God is always on time- at times not early but never late.

5. God never gives us more than we can handle.

God tells us we will face trials in this world, but He is our strength. He is our provider because of His love for us. When trials and hard confusing times arise in our life we need to look up to God. We can’t allow ourselves to give up, to focus too much on our circumstances.

We need to constantly be seeking Him and watch how He delivers us and at the same time strengthens us. We need to remember that nothing is too difficult for the lord. To remember the ways, He has always provided and showed up for us in the past and know that He will again be there for us- forever and ever.