Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Allison.

Today's scripture offers us a wiser way of being human as we step into the day.

Today's reading comes from a moment of exhaustion, fear, and burnout.

One many of us can recognize, even if our circumstances look different on the surface.

Today's passage is 1st Kings 19, 9 through 13. And the word of the Lord came to him.

What are you doing here, Elijah? He replied, I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.

I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.

The Lord said,

Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks

before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake,

but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the

fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?

Elijah arrives at this moment depleted. He has done everything he was asked to do,

and then some. He has confronted injustice. He has stood alone. He has poured himself out in service

and obedience. And now he is afraid, overwhelmed, and ready to give up. Elijah's exhaustion doesn't

come from failure. It comes from faithfulness.

So often we assume burnout is a sign that something has gone wrong, that we've misstepped,

lacked faith, or failed to trust God properly.

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