Get Up and Eat
Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th. M.
Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.
1 Kings 19:7
How do you know when your life is too chaotic - when you’ve overextended, said yes too many times, and taken on more than you should? Do you have a way to gauge? In my counseling practice I’ve noticed that most people don’t realize it until it is way too late - until they are burned out, stressed, and resentful.
In 1 Kings 19: 1-8 Elijah flees to Horeb. If you’re into trash talking prophets I encourage you to read the chapters around it, too - but, long story short - Elijah had just, through the power of the one true God, defeated the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel and was fleeing for his life. He seems a little depressed and lonely at this point - if you ask me. During this time the Lord gives him a task to do but also says to get up and eat because they journey will be too hard- or in other words, take care of yourself because life is hard and you can’t do it if you don’t.
The gauge people can use to identify when life is too much is failure to maintain self-care. Everyone has different self-care items that are the first to go when life is hard. Usually sleep is first to go but I’ve asked around a complied a list others: reading the Bible, tithing, washing your face, making your bed, bathing, eating “real” meals, spending time with friends, exercising, and spending time in leisure activity. I’m not sure what it is for you but if you’re not taking care of yourself, hear me; “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” If you’re not taking care of yourself first you can’t take care of anyone else and you will make completing the tasks that the Lord puts you in front of you much more difficult or even impossible.
Take time this month to evaluate your self-care - are you taking care of yourself well? A great way to identify is to ask yourself, “Am I treating myself the way I encourage others to treat themselves? Am I doing the things I need to do so I feel refreshed spiritually, emotionally, and physically?”
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
