Angels to Feed You
By Elin Henderson
“Then, as he lay under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”
I Kings 19:5(NKJV)
Have you ever been to a place, like Elijah here in I Kings 19, where life just seems unbearable? Where you come to the end of yourself and say, “Enough! I can’t take it anymore!” Been sitting under any Broom Trees lately, only to find an angel there to help you? Feeling alone but never alone! By Elin Henderson
“Then, as he lay under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”
I Kings 19:5(NKJV)
Isn’t God good? He keeps His angels on standby, ready and willing to reach down to our humanity, meet us where we are, and bless us. He isn’t in the business of crushing, but of restoring! He allows us to go low, to collapse, to feel utterly useless and worthless, yet in the midst of it, He sends His grace and love to help us!
Sometimes I think we meet these angels unawares. I wonder if Elijah wondered when he was awoken by the angel, “Where did this guy come from?” Scripture doesn’t tell us, but what we do know is that he ate (was renewed inwardly), was allowed to rest again (further renewal and restoration), and then was shaken awake and told to arise, eat and go! The angels were busy that day! Whether Elijah was aware of what was taking place, we don’t know. All we do know is that his strength was renewed – beyond normal even – and “he went forth.”
Just like with Elijah and many others, God’s help is always present for you in those times of discouragement. His angels are always ready to reach down and comfort and help! His plan is never to crush us, but rather to tenderly meet us where we are, help us and send us on our way, with strength beyond what we could ask or think. The question is: Are we accepting their help? Do we take advantage of the help, allow the renewing to take place or just roll over and say, “No thanks”? May He make us more and more aware of His angels all around us and His renewing that comes when we next find ourselves under the Broom Tree.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Where else in Scripture has the Lord showed His kindness by using angels to help and encourage His people?
2. How has He demonstrated His kindness to you in a time of discouragement? Have you ever told someone else about what He did?
FURTHER READING:
Genesis 16:7-15; I Kings 19:1-8; Exodus 3 & 4
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.
