Rest as obedience: what Elijah under the juniper tree teaches tired mums

Elijah had just seen one of the greatest victories of his ministry, and then he ran for his life, collapsed under a desert tree and asked God to let him die. If you have ever gone from the high of your baby's arrival to the lowest, most depleted place you've known, his story in 1 Kings 19 may feel strangely familiar. What God did next is worth noticing, because it was not a lecture. It was a nap and a meal.

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. (1 Kings 19:5, KJV)

God let Elijah sleep. Then he fed him. Then he let him sleep again, and fed him again, before there was any talk of next steps. Before God spoke to Elijah's heart, he cared for Elijah's body.

Why rest can feel like disobedience

Many Christian mums carry an unspoken belief that being good means being busy. We admire the woman who serves everyone, never stops and always puts herself last. Rest can feel selfish, even lazy. But rest is woven into the rhythm of creation. God himself rested on the seventh day, and he gave his people a weekly Sabbath, for servants and even working animals as well as families. Rest is not a reward for the strong. It is a gift and, in a real sense, an act of obedience and trust.

What obedient rest can look like this week

You may not get a full day off with a newborn. But obedience in this season might look like:

• Saying no to a commitment, event or visitor that would drain you.
• Accepting a meal or an offer of babysitting without explaining why you need it.
• Taking the nap instead of cleaning the kitchen.
• Eating properly, like Elijah: sitting down to a real meal at least once a day.
• Going to bed early one night a week, even if you'd rather have time alone.
• Keeping a mini Sabbath: one hour each week with no chores, no to-do list and no guilt, just rest, a walk, worship music or quiet time with God.

Rest is not the same as escape

There is a difference between restoring rest and numbing scrolling. Both can happen on the sofa, but only one leaves you refreshed. Try to notice what actually refills you, whether that is sleep, quiet, fresh air, a long shower, a conversation, prayer or a funny film, and give yourself more of that. Ask the people around you to help protect it.

Rest for the body, then the heart

Elijah's story also shows us God's order of care. Only after Elijah had slept and eaten did God meet him on the mountain in a still, small voice. If you have been feeling far from God, guilty that you can't manage long prayer times or church services right now, take heart. Looking after your body is not a distraction from your spiritual life. It may be the very thing that makes room for you to hear him again.

When you feel like Elijah

Elijah's exhaustion had tipped into despair; he wanted his life to end. If you are tired in a way that has become hopelessness, if you feel you can't go on or that your family would be better off without you, please don't wait. Tell your doctor, midwife or health visitor today, or go to an emergency department. Like Elijah, you need care, and help is available. Needing it is not a failure of faith.

Jesus' invitation

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites everyone who labours and is heavy laden to come to him for rest. He doesn't say come to me once you've finished the washing, or once you've earned it. He simply says come. A tired mum lying down for twenty minutes and whispering I'm tired, Lord, is answering that invitation.

A prayer for holy rest

Lord, I confess that I find it hard to stop. Teach me that rest is your gift, not my weakness. Touch me as you touched Elijah: let me sleep, let me eat, and then speak to my heart. Amen.