Burnout. It’s that weariness in your being, a mental and emotional fatigue. It’s a sudden paralysis of your giftings, a quaking in your spirit. It’s the whisper in your mind that says you can’t take one more step, write one more word, do one more thing.

But burnout cannot have the final say. When we feel its effects, we need to rest, not believe the lie that our rope ran out.

Even heroes of the faith have been tempted to swallow that lie. The prophet Elijah went from a literal mountain-top moment to quivering under a broom tree. How did he fall so low, so fast, and how did he recover? His story can prepare us to face our own burnout experiences.

When we feel [burnout’s] effects, we need to rest, not believe the lie that our rope ran out.

Prepare for the Climb

I’ve lived at sea level in Florida my whole life and am no expert climber. About a decade ago, though, my twin brother convinced me to climb Mount Washington (6,288 feet) with him. Every week for months, we rucked several miles with our backpacks filled with bricks. (We were too cheap for weighted vests back then.)

We trained hard, but I didn’t feel ready like my brother, who had climbed the mountain before. Still, we made the trip, chose a day with good weather, and drove to the base.

The prophet Elijah prepared for a different kind of mountain. Instead of hiking with bricks on his back, he called for a giant showdown on Mount Carmel between the prophets of Baal and the one true God (I Kings 18:19). There, Elijah dared the people to “call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God” (I Kings 18:2,4 NKJV).

Most of us are familiar with the story. The false god Baal remained silent, while the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sent fire from heaven and consumed Elijah’s sacrifice and altar. God showed up big time in answer to Elijah’s prayer.

Brace for the Descent

During the grueling climb, my brother promised I could take the train down from the top of the mountain. I don’t remember if the train wasn’t running that day, or my brother convinced me not to take it, but after lunch at the summit, we began the hike down.

The problem with the mountaintop is that it lasts for a short time. Too soon, we’re looking at the valley below and the trek to get there. The descent comes faster than the climb, and it’s also more dangerous.

When Queen Jezebel heard that Elijah had killed her prophets, she vowed to take his life too. After witnessing God’s awesome power, Elijah shrugged off her threat, right? Nope. He ran for his life. “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” (I Kings 19:4).

Eliah’s adrenaline rush had dried up, and he fell into despair under the nearest shrub that offered shade. If we recognize our human tendency to crash after a high point, we can better brace for the emotional descent.

Make Room for Rest

A rental car had never looked more beautiful. My brother and I reached the parking lot late that afternoon with no broken bones but with that post-workout feeling that promised I wouldn’t be able to walk the next day. Our first stop? Dunkin Donuts. I ordered a large iced coffee and chocolate donut. I hope we ate something healthy for dinner, but I don’t remember. What I do remember is spending the next few days at camp, requiring ibuprofen.

Elijah didn’t chug a coffee, because God provided something better. I Kings 19:5 says that an angel touched Elijah as he slept under the broom tree. He didn’t tell Elijah to stop slacking or get back to work. Instead, he simply said, “Arise and eat” (I Kings 19:5), and the angel took care of the tab, providing food and water.

Not once, but twice. It’s a reminder that rest doesn’t happen instantly. It’s a process that takes time. Elijah needed to rest well to prepare for the next journey God had him for him (I Kings 19:8).

If you’re feeling burned out, be gentle with yourself.

If you’re feeling burned out, be gentle with yourself. Sleep. Eat well (maybe not donuts and coffee). Rest some more. You’re not wasting time. You’re preparing for God’s next assignment.

Where are you in “the climb” today? If you’re on the mountain, enjoy the view but prepare. If you’re in the descent, hold on. A rest stop should be your next destination.