I know some days you wonder if it will ever get easier. You jump over one trial and just feel your feet adjusting to walking the path again, and then a new hurdle emerges to overcome. We cry out that we have had our share of troubles; it’s someone else’s turn. If we read Elijah’s story (1 kings 19: 1-21), we find lessons on spiritual stamina. Right after God’s amazing display, the queen of Israel, Jezebel, threatened Elijah’s life. You would think he would have no fear after what he just witnessed God do on Mount Carmel. Yet Elijah was human. He was a regular man who made mistakes, who was afraid sometimes, but when it really mattered he trusted God. This time though he went out into the wilderness to pout. He claimed he was alone and he sat under a broom tree and said, “I have had enough Lord”. God responded to Elijah’s moping with these instructions; get some rest, eat some food, go back the way you came, and find the others who serve me to support you.
Like Elijah we sometimes want to say I have had enough Lord. We want to go sit somewhere and have a pity party. We feel like we are alone and that no one understands. We don’t call our friends or take some time to care for our soul. When an overwhelming problem arises, we need to take care of ourselves with food and rest. We must remember God’s faithfulness through past difficulties and go back the way we came, trusting him one day at a time. We need to use the people God put in our life who will pray, support and help us walk in a difficult journey. We must realize that food, rest, and relationships can be God’s gifts to help us maintain stamina in difficult seasons. So whatever we are facing, Elijah’s story will help us remember the lessons to take care of ourselves, surround ourselves with godly voices, listen for God’s still small voice, and most important trust God. In order to gain stamina to run the race of faith, we need to make a conscious decision to choose the right foods, rest habits, and time with nourishing people. Be blessed and have a wonderful weekend.
EMMANUEL 
Amen!
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I would just like to add these 2 scriptures that bring me much comfort. James 1:2-4 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
And then Hebrews 12:11 (KJV) “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” GOD is truly good, gracious, kind and merciful. AMEN.
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Amen
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