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“It's Okay to Not Be Okay”
December 20, 2025
Daily Devotional:
“It's Okay to Not Be Okay”
1 Kings 19:4
"He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'"
Elijah, the fiery prophet who had just called down fire from heaven and single-handedly defeated the 450 prophets of Baal, remained hidden under a broom bush, exhausted, alone, and completely despairing. The victory was glorious, but the threat from Queen Jezebel was immediate and terrifying. His prayer is raw and honest: "I have had enough, Lord... Take my life." This isn't just exhaustion but it's a deep spiritual and emotional burnout, a feeling of utter failure and insignificance, bothered thoughts of insignificance "I am no better than my ancestors". It’s a profound spiritual dip following a massive spiritual high.
This verse offers a crucial reassurance of; It is okay to not be okay. Even the greatest figures of faith, people who walked closely with God and witnessed miracles, experienced moments of complete hopelessness and wanted to quit.Elijah, who saw God's power firsthand, felt the crushing weight of human weakness and fear.
Where are you sitting under your "broom bush" today?
Is it the exhaustion from a prolonged struggle? Is it the disappointment after a major effort didn't bring the expected result? Is it the feeling that your efforts are pointless, or that you are fundamentally "no better" thanyour past mistakes or perceived failures?
Elijah's prayer was a cry of pain, and God didn't rebuke him for it. Instead, God met him with simple, practical grace of rest and nourishment on the chapter's succeeding verses. Before giving him a new mission or a spiritual lecture, God first allowed him to sleep and provided food for his journey.
When you feel like giving up, remember this truth; God can handle your darkest prayers, and honesty is welcome in His holy presence. Don't hide your despair, rather bring it to Him, just as Elijah did. Sometimes, the spiritual battle is compounded by the physical one. Rest, food, and a change of pace are vital acts of self-care that God often uses to restore our soul, but your story isn't over just yet! God didn't take Elijah's life. He restored him and gave him new tasks, new hope, and a new companion. The moment you want to quit is often the moment God is preparing to refresh you for the next season!
Today, let's pray a prayer of honesty. Acknowledge one thing that is exhausting us. Then, intentionally and consciously take a small step toward physical or emotional rest.
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By Y.E.S. Jesus Youth Encountering Savior JesusDecember 20, 2025
Daily Devotional:
“It's Okay to Not Be Okay”
1 Kings 19:4
"He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'"
Elijah, the fiery prophet who had just called down fire from heaven and single-handedly defeated the 450 prophets of Baal, remained hidden under a broom bush, exhausted, alone, and completely despairing. The victory was glorious, but the threat from Queen Jezebel was immediate and terrifying. His prayer is raw and honest: "I have had enough, Lord... Take my life." This isn't just exhaustion but it's a deep spiritual and emotional burnout, a feeling of utter failure and insignificance, bothered thoughts of insignificance "I am no better than my ancestors". It’s a profound spiritual dip following a massive spiritual high.
This verse offers a crucial reassurance of; It is okay to not be okay. Even the greatest figures of faith, people who walked closely with God and witnessed miracles, experienced moments of complete hopelessness and wanted to quit.Elijah, who saw God's power firsthand, felt the crushing weight of human weakness and fear.
Where are you sitting under your "broom bush" today?
Is it the exhaustion from a prolonged struggle? Is it the disappointment after a major effort didn't bring the expected result? Is it the feeling that your efforts are pointless, or that you are fundamentally "no better" thanyour past mistakes or perceived failures?
Elijah's prayer was a cry of pain, and God didn't rebuke him for it. Instead, God met him with simple, practical grace of rest and nourishment on the chapter's succeeding verses. Before giving him a new mission or a spiritual lecture, God first allowed him to sleep and provided food for his journey.
When you feel like giving up, remember this truth; God can handle your darkest prayers, and honesty is welcome in His holy presence. Don't hide your despair, rather bring it to Him, just as Elijah did. Sometimes, the spiritual battle is compounded by the physical one. Rest, food, and a change of pace are vital acts of self-care that God often uses to restore our soul, but your story isn't over just yet! God didn't take Elijah's life. He restored him and gave him new tasks, new hope, and a new companion. The moment you want to quit is often the moment God is preparing to refresh you for the next season!
Today, let's pray a prayer of honesty. Acknowledge one thing that is exhausting us. Then, intentionally and consciously take a small step toward physical or emotional rest.