The Journey is too Great for Thee

Elijah, after experiencing a tremendous victory on Mount Carmel, found himself running for his life, overwhelmed by fear and despair. Despite having just witnessed God’s power in a mighty way, he reached a point of hopelessness, feeling as though his journey was over and his strength was gone. Lying under a juniper tree, Elijah was so exhausted and discouraged that he simply wanted to give up. Yet, in that moment of deep need, God sent an angel to minister to him—not just once, but twice—providing supernatural sustenance and strength for the journey ahead.

This story is a powerful reminder that even the most faithful and victorious among us can find ourselves in places of despair and helplessness. Life’s journey, with all its challenges and assignments, is often too great for us to handle on our own. We may try to rely on our own abilities, intellect, or independence, but ultimately, we are not enough. The truth is, we need God’s help every single day—whether it’s for the simple tasks of life or the great callings He has placed on us.

Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern repeated: God’s people come to the end of themselves, only to discover that His strength is made perfect in their weakness. Whether it was Israel facing Goliath, Gideon hiding from the Midianites, or Moses at the Red Sea, each found that the journey was too much for them, but not for God. When we acknowledge our need and depend on Him, He provides the supernatural help, wisdom, and courage we need to fulfill our purpose.

God’s provision is not just for survival, but for victory and completion of the mission He has given us. He surrounds us with a community—pastors, elders, brothers and sisters in Christ—who support and pray for us. Most importantly, He gives us His Spirit, His grace, and His mercy. No matter how great the task or how deep the despair, God is able to turn things around, to strengthen us, and to remind us that our purpose is greater than our pain. With God on our side, we cannot fail.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Hopelessness and despair are not signs of failure, but invitations to encounter God’s sustaining presence. Elijah’s lowest moment became the setting for a divine visitation, showing that God meets us in our weakness, not just our strength. When we feel overwhelmed, it is often the prelude to a fresh encounter with God’s grace. [03:18]
• 2. The journey God calls us to is intentionally beyond our own strength, so that we learn to depend on Him. The angel’s words, “the journey is too great for thee,” are not a rebuke, but a loving reminder that we are not meant to walk alone or in our own power. Our limitations are the doorway to God’s limitless provision. [02:43]
• 3. God’s help often comes in unexpected forms and at unexpected times. Elijah received supernatural food and rest, not a dramatic rescue or instant solution. Sometimes, God’s answer is a quiet provision that gives us strength for the next step, rather than the removal of the challenge itself. [05:34]
• 4. Community and spiritual covering are essential for the journey. Independence and isolation are dangerous illusions; we need the church, spiritual leadership, and the prayers of others. God’s design is that we are strengthened not only by His Spirit, but also by the fellowship and support of His people. [11:30]
• 5. God’s purpose for our lives is greater than any opposition or setback we face. Elijah thought his ministry was over, but God revealed there was still much more ahead. Our greatest moments of despair can become the launching pad for new assignments and greater victories, if we trust in God’s timing and strength. [15:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - Introduction and Setting the Scene
• [00:44] - Elijah’s Despair and Jezebel’s Threat
• [01:30] - The Angel’s First and Second Touch
• [02:43] - “The Journey is Too Great for Thee”
• [03:18] - Hopelessness and Despair in the Life of Faith
• [05:34] - God’s Supernatural Provision
• [06:32] - Our Daily Need for God
• [07:13] - Biblical Examples of Helplessness
• [08:04] - The Necessity of God’s Strength
• [09:12] - The Anointing and the Holy Spirit’s Empowerment
• [10:24] - God Pulls Us Through
• [11:30] - The Importance of Community and Spiritual Covering
• [13:12] - Angelic and Divine Help for the Journey
• [15:06] - The Mission is Greater Than Our Strength
• [15:50] - God’s Purpose is Not Finished
• [17:13] - Building with the Help of the Holy Ghost
• [17:57] - God Does a New Thing

Bible Reading

1 Kings 19:5-8 (ESV) — > And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Observation Questions

1. What was Elijah’s emotional and physical state when the angel found him under the juniper tree? ([01:30])
2. How did God provide for Elijah in his moment of despair, and how many times did the angel minister to him? ([01:44])
3. What specific words did the angel say to Elijah, and what do they reveal about Elijah’s situation? ([02:12])
4. According to the sermon, what did Elijah do after receiving the angel’s provision? ([02:26])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God allow even faithful people like Elijah to reach a point of hopelessness and exhaustion? ([03:18])
2. The angel told Elijah, “the journey is too great for thee.” What does this statement suggest about our own abilities and God’s expectations for us? ([02:43])
3. The sermon mentions that God’s help sometimes comes in quiet, unexpected ways rather than dramatic rescues. Why do you think God chooses to work this way at times? ([05:34])
4. How does the story of Elijah under the juniper tree connect to other biblical examples of people facing overwhelming situations (like Israel at the Red Sea or Gideon with the Midianites)? ([07:13])

Application Questions

1. Elijah was ready to give up, but God met him in his lowest moment. Have you ever felt like giving up on something God called you to do? What did you do, and did you sense God’s help in that time? ([04:50])
2. The angel’s words, “the journey is too great for thee,” were not a rebuke but a reminder of Elijah’s need for God. In what areas of your life are you trying to “push through” in your own strength? What would it look like to invite God’s help into those areas this week? ([02:43])
3. God’s provision for Elijah was simple—food, water, and rest. Are there “small” ways God has provided for you recently that you may have overlooked? How can you become more aware of God’s quiet provisions? ([05:34])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of community and spiritual covering. Are you trying to handle any struggles alone right now? Who in your church family could you reach out to for prayer or support? ([11:30])
5. Elijah thought his ministry was over, but God had more for him to do. Is there an area in your life where you’ve assumed God is finished with you, but maybe He’s not? How can you stay open to new assignments from God, even after setbacks? ([15:50])
6. The pastor said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” What practical steps can you take this week to depend more on God’s strength rather than your own abilities? ([08:58])
7. The sermon mentioned that God surrounds us with pastors, elders, and brothers and sisters in Christ. How can you be a source of encouragement or support to someone else in your church this week? ([13:25])