Strength for the Journey Ahead

By: Pastor José Flávio Macieira — 2025

This reflection is part of the series "The Desert Therapy: God's Care for the Exhausted Soul," inspired by the themes from the book with the same title.

God's grace is not just for our present comfort, but the fuel for our future obedience.

Imagine recovering from an illness or a period of exhaustion. The first feeling is relief, a desire to remain in that state of rest. The last thing we want to think about is the "next journey," the next challenge. We often see God's restoration as a final destination, a place to set up camp. But Elijah's story shows us that God's care is deeply purposeful. The rest He gives us is not a retirement, but a refueling.

“So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights, until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:8, NIV)

After being fed twice by the angel, Elijah is not magically transported out of the desert. The therapy was not an escape. Strengthened by that supernatural meal, he begins an epic forty-day journey to Horeb, the mountain where God had revealed Himself to Moses. God was leading his prophet back to the origin of the covenant for a deep, restorative encounter. The bread and water were not just for his survival; they were the divine empowerment for his next and most important destination.

Think of a storm-damaged ship that reaches a safe harbor. The work in the shipyard is not just to keep the ship from sinking. The goal is to repair the hull, mend the sails, and restock the holds so that it can eventually return to the sea and complete its mission. The desert under the broom tree was Elijah's safe harbor. The angel's care was the repair and refueling. But God's purpose was always to send him back on the journey, now stronger and more prepared. Restoration that doesn't lead to mission is incomplete.

The wellness culture focuses on restoration as an end in itself. The goal is to achieve a state of peace and balance for our own benefit. The gospel offers a richer narrative. We are healed to be agents of healing. We are comforted so we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4). Our story of restoration does not belong to us; it becomes a source of hope for a suffering world. God doesn't just pull us out of our desert for our own relief, but to equip us to help others who are still in theirs.

When we're exhausted, the idea of a "long journey" ahead can be daunting. "I can barely handle today, how will I face forty days?". The grace of God meets us in this feeling of inadequacy. The strength for Elijah's journey did not come from his own resolve, but from the "food" he was given. Grace teaches us that God never gives us a mission without also giving us the empowerment for it. Our task is not to have the strength for the entire journey, but to simply "get up and eat and drink" the provision He gives us for today, trusting that it will be sufficient.

Your Next Step of Faith

Think about your current "journey." Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole path, focus on today's "bread." What is the one thing God is giving you today (a scripture, a friend's word, a moment of peace) to strengthen you? Receive it, give thanks, and take the next step in that strength.

The Mirror of the Soul

1. What is the "long journey" you feel God might be strengthening you for today, even if you feel weak?

2. How does the "ship in the shipyard" analogy change your view on the purpose of your periods of rest and healing?

3. Are you intentionally "feeding" on God's provision (His Word, prayer) to gain strength for the challenges ahead?

Prayer

Lord, thank you for not abandoning us in our exhaustion, but for strengthening us with Your bread from heaven. Help us to trust that the strength You give us today is sufficient for the journey You have for us. Feed us with Your Word, sustain us with Your Spirit, and guide us toward the mountain of encounter with You. May we walk in Your strength, and not our own. In Jesus' name, amen.

God does not restore us to go back to what we were, but to propel us into who He has called us to be.