Burnout can feel like your spiritual fire went out — and now you're left staring at wet wood, wondering if it will ever light again. In 1 Kings 18, God shows us where the fire truly comes from.
Israel had wandered from the LORD. The nation was divided, worship was compromised, and many chose easier gods and goddesses that asked less and promised more. Elijah stood nearly alone as a voice calling the people back.
In great conviction, Elijah challenges King Ahab and his prophets of Baal to a confrontation on Mount Carmel: “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire — he is God,” (1 Kings 18:24). Eager to do away with the troublemaking prophet, King Ahab agrees.
The two sides, Elijah on the one and the prophets of Baal on the other, set up a burnt offering of two bulls. Each slaughters their bull, butchers it, and places the pieces atop a wooden altar, but neither side lights the offering. Whichever god responds by lighting the fire is the god worthy to follow. Though the prophets of Baal call on Baal “from morning till noon… And they danced around the altar they had made,” (v. 26), though they even “slash themselves with swords and spears,” (v. 28) there is no response.
Elijah even mocks the prophets amid their frenzied demonstration. Then he demands that the people “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood,” (v. 33). He commands it again. And again. He has them do it three times — four jars each time — until everything is soaked!
In contrast to the frantic prayers of the prophets of Baal, Elijah simply prays:
“LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
— 1 Kings 18:36–37
Elijah's prayer is that God would send fire in order to turn the hearts of the people back again to the LORD. In response, “the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench,” (v. 38).
When you're burned out, it's easy to think the problem is the wood — your discipline, your emotions, your willpower. But on Mount Carmel the point is unmistakable: even soaked wood burns when God sends fire. God is not moved by frantic displays of religiosity. He responds to simple, honest dependence.
You do not need to muster up the emotion. If you feel numb, that doesn't disqualify you. God is not annoyed by your weakness. You do not need to muster up the resolve. You were never meant to place any hope in your own ability.
Begin by recognizing that the source of the fire you seek comes from above. And no matter how cold your heart is, God is able to rekindle our hearts as we turn to Him — sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly, even if all we can offer is a whisper.
And if that's true, there's reason enough to begin believing again.
