Introduction: When the Noise is Too Much
In a world constantly humming with alerts, opinions, and obligations, it’s easy to lose track of the one voice that matters most – God’s. The relentless pace of life can crowd out spiritual clarity. Many of us live attached to our devices, surrounded by voices (others’ and our own) that tell us what we should do, think, or become. In such noise, God’s voice often gets drowned out.
Yet there is a way back to stillness. There is a pattern, a practice, that allows space for God’s voice to break through. In seasons of burnout, when we feel spent and unsure, this stillness becomes not just a luxury but a necessity.
From the Mountaintop to the Valley: Elijah’s Journey
1 Kings 19 offers a compelling picture of burnout through the story of the prophet Elijah. Just one chapter earlier, Elijah stood victorious on Mount Carmel in a dramatic showdown with the prophets of Baal. He prayed, and God answered with consuming fire, a powerful public affirmation of Yahweh as the true God.
But the morning after his greatest triumph, Elijah receives a death threat from Queen Jezebel. He is suddenly afraid and flees for his life. How could a prophet so bold become so broken in a single day?
This emotional crash, this whiplash from confidence to collapse, resonates deeply. Many of us have experienced our own versions. One moment we’re on a high, the next we’re anxious, disoriented, and ready to quit. Like Elijah, we whisper, “I’ve had enough.”
Recognizing the Burnout Within
Burnout doesn’t always come from failure. Sometimes it comes after success. The energy we give, whether to ministry, relationships, sobriety, parenting, or purpose-driven work, can leave us exhausted, especially when we don’t see immediate fruit.
Maybe you’ve been living with chronic pain, fighting for your marriage, standing firm in your faith, or carrying the weight of a mission no one else seems to notice. And like Elijah under the broom tree, you’ve reached the edge.
“I’ve had enough, Lord,” Elijah said. “Take my life.”
If you’ve ever said something similar, even if only in your heart, know that you’re not alone.
Step One: Refuel
When Elijah collapses, God doesn’t start with a sermon. He starts with sleep and food. Elijah takes a nap. An angel wakes him with a warm meal and invites him to eat. Then he sleeps again. And eats again.
This divine care reminds us of a simple truth: we are embodied souls. Spiritual recovery often starts with physical replenishment. In seasons of burnout, it may be more faithful to rest and eat than to power through in God’s name. As Paul David Tripp says, we are not disembodied spirits. Refueling honors how God created us.
Step Two: Refocus
Strengthened, Elijah travels to Mount Horeb and hides in a cave. There, he separates himself from the demands of others and the distractions of the world. He carves out space to listen.
This mirrors the rhythm of Jesus. After busy days of healing and teaching, Jesus withdrew to solitary places to pray. If even the Son of God needed silence to stay aligned with the Father, how much more do we?
You don’t need 40 days in the wilderness or a literal cave. But you do need a rhythm of stepping away. Hearing God’s voice requires space where the static can fade.
Once Elijah is quiet enough to hear, the Word of the Lord comes: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God invites Elijah to voice his pain. Elijah responds with honest despair, convinced he is alone and that all his work has been in vain. His mind is clouded by fear and self-pity, common symptoms of emotional exhaustion.
God listens. Then He invites Elijah out of the cave for a sacred encounter. A wind tears across the mountains, but God is not in the wind. An earthquake follows, but God is not there. Then a fire. Still no God.
Finally, a gentle whisper.
God speaks not with volume, but with presence. His voice is not in the noise but in the hush.
Step Three: Re-engage
God’s voice does two things:
1. He Calms You
God’s whisper settles the panic in Elijah’s soul. And that same voice calms us. In a world that rewards frenzy, God’s peace is radical. Your calm presence can testify to His reality more powerfully than any argument.
When we listen for God’s voice, we are reminded that we are not God, we don’t have to carry the weight of the world. And that changes everything.
2. He Calls You Forward
After the whisper, God doesn’t send Elijah into retirement. He gives him a new assignment: anoint new kings and appoint Elisha as his prophetic successor. Elijah’s work isn’t over, but neither is it alone. He will mentor the next generation. He will finish strong.
God’s voice calms, then commissions. He quiets the noise, then says, “Go.”
Conclusion: Will You Listen?
Maybe today, like Elijah, you’re depleted. The best next step may be to rest and refuel. Then, make space to refocus. Find a rhythm that removes the noise. Step away from the crowd, the crisis, and even the expectations, for a moment, to listen.
And in that quiet, listen for the whisper for God’s guidance on how to re-engage. It may say:
“You’re not alone.”
“You’re not done.”
“Keep going.”
God still speaks. The question is: will you make space to hear Him?
*Article based on sermon delivered at Calvary Christian Church on 10/16/22. To view this sermon, go to: https://www.youtube.com/live/UdRabNzS83o?si=6GgXQVqh3REcCEDJ&t=1796Bottom of Form
