“We are not meant to be perpetually solemn: We must play.”
C. S. Lewis
“Being disciplined and being brave are not easy tasks. If you don’t make space in your life for play, you will burn out.”
— 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs (p. 162)
“And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
(I Kings 19:3-4)
Anyone feeling burned out? February through April this year (2026) has worn me out. There was a lot of waiting for things to be settled, special events to plan for at the yarn shop, and multiple wellness visits to get taken care of and paid for. The end result was feeling exhausted and anxious. My life has not been as dramatic as Elisha’s, but I can see why he needed to run away for a while.
Elisha had just faced off against the prophets of Baal, and God had given him the victory. Yet, the face-off was still draining, and it was followed by a death threat. Elisha ran off to the wilderness, and I ran off to a cabin in the woods. I can relate.
The truth is that God is okay with that. We were never intended to run full tilt and in super serious mode twenty-four/seven. God created laughter and fun. We all need balance, so if you are feeling stressed and burned-out, learn from Elisha. While some might condemn him, God did not scold him or tell him to toughen up. So, what did He do?
Ministering Angels
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat….7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
(I Kings 19:5,7)
First off, God did condemn him. Instead, He sent an angel to take care of him. He didn’t leave him to die in the wilderness. The angel brought words of comfort and sustenance to keep him alive. No matter where we are physically, mentally, or spiritually, God is always present and will make himself known to us and to comfort us. We just have to keep our eyes on Him.
Eating Snacks
And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink
(I Kings 19:6a)
The first thing the angel did was tell him to eat and drink. I don’t know about you, but I am most vulnerable when I am hungry. It makes you weak and grumpy. God not only provided the food, He sent an angel to prepare it. No cooking, no clean-up, no preparation. God had it all prepared for Him. Sometimes it is okay to not worry about the dishes or dinner and to just order take out.
Taking a Nap
and laid him down again
(I Kings 19:6b)
Finally, God was okay with Elisha taking a nap in the middle of the day. When you’ve completed a difficult leg of your journey, you need to rest. The Lord made the Sabbath for just that reason, but sometimes we need just a little more. People often think going on a trip is the idea, but a week of running from one activity to the other is not rest. I’m talking a retreat. My sister, her husband, and I retreated to a cabin in the woods. We didn’t leave once. We had snacks, a great view, some entertainment, and plenty of places to take a nap. That was true rest.
Preparing for the Journey
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
(I Kings 19:8)
Elisha needed the rest because God knew what was coming next, and He knew Elisha wasn’t ready. He needed to recharge. We all need that from time to time. God wants to prepare us for the next leg of the journey by giving us rest so that we can not only persevere but also have joy in every moment. So, if you are feeling stressed and worn out, maybe you need a snack and a nap and just resting in the presence of God.
If you want more tips on how to relieve stress, check out the Bonnie Gray podcast. The link below is an episode about trying new things just for the joy of it, but her entire podcast is about reducing stress. In the meantime, take a little time to rest or do something fun. It’ll do you good.