“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4)

I remember several times in my life where I have uttered words similar to Elijah’s. Completely exhausted, I surrendered my life to God in desperation. One was in my battle with depression, I had reached the end of my efforts. There was nothing I could do for the situation. The road ahead looked dark and I cried out in desperation.

Under the Broom Tree, Elijah reached the end of himself and started a new beginning with God. Under the Broom Tree, he was depleted of all of his own human efforts, and had an encounter with God. It is only in the surrendering of our lives that God can meet us with deliverance and It is not until we are stripped of every possible human outlet.

The Broom Tree is a symbol of restoration and new beginnings. Elijah walked in Faith and obedience but in a fit of discouragement and fear, he ran. It is then that he found himself truly dependent on God, it is then that God met him, nourished him, and strengthened him for the journey ahead.

Have you settled under your Broom Tree, too exhausted to continue? Stripped of every possible human solution.

It is there that the Faith journey truly begins, faith is stepping out when you can’t see any progress. Faith is trusting a God when all looks desperate. Faith is crying out under the Broom Tree and knowing that you have reached your end, you’re sick of trying. God wants to meet you. Faith is faith because it is stepping out when you can’t see any positive outcome. Let God meet you under the Broom Tree, cry out to him, let him nourish and strengthen you for the journey ahead.

Move forward in faith, and learn to hear His still SMALL voice.