阅读经文 

在前往弗吉尼亚州马卡姆附近的威士忌谷（Whiskey Hollow）的为期一天的徒步旅行中，我走了大约20英里，相当于《圣经》中“一日的路程”。虽然我抵达的时候已经精疲力尽了，但我很高兴自己已经前进了一段距离。

经过一天的漫长路程，以利亚的感受就完全不同了。他精疲力尽，倒在树下。他的身体、情感和精神都崩溃了。在入睡前，他恳求神说：“我受够了……杀了我吧……”（参王上 19:4）

以利亚刚在迦密山与巴力的祭司打了一场胜仗回来。（参王上 18）现在他却在躲避邪恶的亚哈王和王后耶洗别的追杀。在以利亚极度的疲惫和绝望中，神派了一个天使来为他提供了饮用水和可口的热点心。以利亚醒了，又行走了四十昼夜，到了何烈山。在那里，神对以利亚说话，与他会面，告知祂对以利亚以及其他一些人的计划。神使以利亚对未来有了新的盼望。

在我们自己的生活中，我们也可以指望神在我们痛苦和崩溃的时候款待我们，使我们振作起来。事实上，神已经藉着耶稣为我们成就了这些，祂给了我们灵魂的安息和赐新生命的救恩。（参太 11:28-30）我们前行的每一步都可以信任祂。

On a day’s hike to Whiskey Hollow, near Markham, Vir­ginia, I clocked about 20 miles, the equivalent of a “day’s journey” in the Bible. Though worn out when I arrived, I was pleased to have put some distance behind me.

Elijah’s experience after a day’s journey was quite different. Entirely spent, he collapsed under a bush. He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually shattered. Before sinking into sleep, he pleaded with God, “I have had enough. . . . Take my life. . . .”

Elijah had just come from a fierce battle with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Now he was fleeing for his life from the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. In response to Elijah’s utter exhaustion and desperation, God sent an angel to provide water and warm cakes. When Elijah finally revived, he walked another 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb. There God spoke to Elijah and met with him, telling him the plans he still had for Elijah and for others to do. God gave Elijah renewed hope for the future.