There are times in our lives when we reach spiritual mountaintops. It might be that we have run a holiday club or residential where God has made a real impact on children. Perhaps the whole church has worked together on a family outreach event, and now you have contact with more people than you’ve ever had before. Or you could have worked successfully with your local primary school for the first time. Maybe it’s just something as simple as your day-to-day work going brilliantly.
These are times to rejoice, to praise God for and to remember. However, all too often, these spiritual highs are followed by times of spiritual dryness. I was reflecting on this a few days ago. I have just been involved in leading a residential for Scripture Union. It was a time full of fun, faith and food – God moved among the whole community and many made great steps forward in their journey with him. However, when I came back home to my work and my everyday routine, all that seemed so long ago. In my post-camp tiredness, I struggled to get going and to spend time with God.
God brought me to the story of Elijah – not the triumphant confrontation on Mount Carmel, but the time after that, when he was forced to run from Jezebel. Elijah’s God-filled victory against Baal and his prophets was momentous, but immediately he is forced to flee. He dismisses his servant and then walks into the desert. Does he think this is the end? He is certainly ready to give up, even to die. He feels so far from God, yet God gives him exactly what he needs – sleep and food – before meeting with him, and showing him his plans for the future.
We may not wander into the desert or think that it’s all over, but we can fall into the valley after great times at the summit. It matters that we look after ourselves; like Elijah, we need to eat properly and recover our sleep. If we try to keep going on one cylinder or less, we are no use to anyone and can be a hindrance. We need to get help from others, as the angel helps Elijah. We need to spend time with God for ourselves, not for our ministry. And after a while, we need to look forward to the future and ask God where we go next.
Next time I stand on that mountaintop, I will be more mindful to look after myself when I come down. But God is gracious enough to pick us up if we try to keep going on our own and then fall apart. If you’re feeling like you’ve gone from summit to valley in quick succession, remember Elijah and look after yourself. God loves you - so show yourself some love too.
