When Every Broom Tree is Taken (Finding Strength in Relentless Storms)

Spiritually, Elijah was no slouch.

He wasn’t kicking back skipping worship services because of late nights leading up to Sabbath.

He wasn’t annoyed by the last choice of worship psalm or irritable because no one else noticed that he’d been the only one bringing treats for after service six weeks in a row.

Elijah had the number to God’s direct line. He could stop the rain. Revive the dead. Call down fire from heaven on a soaking wet altar and “the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38).

Yeah, he was that guy.

And some of us are that guy. We have faith. We have faith when victory doesn’t blossom, when there’s no fruit on the vine, when the flock is scattered, there are no olives on our tree, when the car won’t start (again), and the diagnosis isn’t good, and the congregation is dwindling because of youth sports and compromise, and even when we look in the mirror and see an ancient prophet staring back despite having just come from the hairdressers.

We talk to God. We study His Word. We worship. We serve. We give.

But, you know what else?

Just like Elijah, we get tired. And we go crawling looking for our own broom tree, complaining that, much to our surprise we’re just like everyone else, and asking God just to let us come home.

Spiritual exhaustion is a thing. Even if we do everything right (and who does?), we are only human. Made of dust. Filled with the Holy Spirit but still, beings who run out of gas.

And God is more aware of this than we are. He rejects our sin, not our humanity. He doesn’t need us to be God. He is. We are not.

These days, however, we’ve got ourselves a situation.

Because these are the days of Elijah and so all of us are stretched–like stretched beyond what we can endure. And up to now, most of us have been trying to hold up our own faith. And up to now, most of us have refused to learn to rest because we thought we were the exceptions. And up to now, we thought all of God’s plan relied on us and those treats we’ve been bringing every week for after service.

But the enemy is pressing in and the sin of the world is multiplying and faith is waning and storms keep coming and bombs are falling and there’s an election and people are dying and fighting and dividing and protesting and giving up– so much so that when we go to slink off to our own broom tree, every single one is occupado.

Welcome to the last days, people.

No one knows when Jesus will return. Could be a century away. But it’s not going to get easier. I believe the Bible and Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

We need a better plan than coasting on a spiritual diet of phoning in worship, skipping daily Bible reading, single-word prayers, and loving our neighbor from afar when it’s convenient for us. It’s time to dig in or we won’t have the strength. God is giving us the training we need for what’s next. Will we lean into it or binge our favorite show to get through?

If you haven’t already, now is the day to go all in. Or, as Elijah told the people, ““How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Elijah went from faith enough to call down fire to failing enough to fall on his face and wish he were dead in a heartbeat. Certainly, an aspect of that exhaustion was unavoidable but I have to think that one clue to his broom tree depression was thinking he was alone, the single prophet remaining who was faithful to God.

I’ve met a lot of those lone prophets in my time. Sometimes, I’ve been one, to my shame. It comes from imagining I’m the only one getting it right. From keeping myself so busy with ministry and important assignments I don’t sit on a porch with another brother or sister and cry or laugh together. I wave at them after worship but I don’t go deep. I don’t take time to discover they’re seeing what I’m seeing, struggling with what I face (and more), wrestling with the same giant truths about God and realities of life on our planet.

Sometimes it’s because I’m busy. Other times it’s because I’m afraid. Afraid to stop. Afraid to be vulnerable. Afraid to find out I’m wrong about some things. Afraid for someone else to see who I am.

We have got to get over ourselves, loved ones. Or we won’t survive this next phase.

This temptation to pull away from others is from the pits of hell. Resist it. If you have faith in God, have faith enough to trust Him when He says He wants us to be family to one another–and not distant cousins–brothers, sisters, friends. If you don’t love your brother, you’re no friend of God says John by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. End of story.

Jude warned us and gave us instruction. What can I add? Nothing. Do this:

“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. ²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Doxology To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— ²⁵ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 17-25 esv.

Forget that broom tree. Take shelter with the oaks of righteousness–your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Don’t weather the storm alone. That’s an order. Selah.

I respond to every comment and reply to every email. Really. I do. It’s my great joy to hear from you!!!

If you need help connecting with others, consider my book The Art of Hard Conversations. It has actual practical and biblical help for interacting with others inside and outside the family of God.

Want a book to study with others? My newest, Graceful Influence, is becoming a favorite with women’s groups. It gets conversation flowing.

 

When every broom tree is already taken. #spiritualexhaustion #bodyofchrist https://t.co/4Q64vOoXV1

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) October 9, 2024