But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4)
Victoria Arlen’s story is often described as miraculous. After being struck by two rare neurological conditions in 2006, she lost nearly all of her physical abilities and spent years locked inside her own body, aware but unable to respond. Doctors gave up hope, yet her family didn’t. She survived, recovered in remarkable ways, and went on to inspire millions as a Paralympic swimmer, TV host, and Dancing with the Stars competitor.
But what many people didn’t see was the quieter, internal struggle that followed. Victoria describes in her new book, The View Is Worth It, how the pressure of being “the miracle” never left her. Everyone saw strength, resilience, and victory. Few saw the exhaustion, trauma, and pain she carried. Years of suffering led to PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She pushed herself relentlessly, unable to slow down or care for her mental health. It all caught up with her in 2021, when she reached a breaking point and considered taking her own life. By God’s grace, through therapy, faith, and community, she made it through the other side.
Her story exposes something important: sometimes the people we admire most for their strength are fighting the hardest unseen battles.
A similar pattern appears in Scripture through the life of Elijah in 1 Kings 18–19. Elijah had just experienced a public, undeniable victory, calling down fire from heaven and successfully discrediting the worshippers of Baal. In that moment from the outside, he looked fearless and unshakable. If anyone could embody strength, surely it was him.
Yet immediately after that mountaintop moment, Elijah’s life is threatened by Jezebel. Terrified, he runs into the wilderness, isolates himself, and prays, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life” (1 Kings 19:4).
The man who stood boldly before crowds now felt alone, afraid, and ready to give up. Like Victoria, Elijah carried something others couldn’t see. The weight of pressure, fear, and exhaustion didn’t disappear just because he had shown strength and courage before.
What’s striking is how God responds. He doesn’t shame Elijah for falling apart after all he had accomplished. He meets him with compassion. God provides rest, food, and gentle care to restore what fear and exhaustion had robbed before asking anything more of him.
Both stories remind us that strength and struggle can coexist. Being used by God, admired by others, or surviving incredible odds does not make someone immune to depression or despair.
If you find yourself relating to this, feeling like you’re supposed to be strong while quietly unraveling, these stories offer a different perspective. God is not measuring you by how well you hold it together. He sees the hidden battles. And like He did with Elijah, He meets you there with care, not condemnation.
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to prove your strength.
Even the strongest are held together by the grace of God.
Prayer: Almighty God, You see me in my struggle, when I feel like I can go no farther. Help me remember that I can be honest with You, that I can share with You my deepest despair. And then, Lord, continue to be faithful in lifting my eyes to see that my help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth (Ps. 121:1–2). In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Want More?
Read the rest of Elijah’s experience after his prayer in 1 Kings 19:9–21. What is the significance of Elijah being in a cave when God speaks to him? Why might God choose to reveal Himself in a “gentle whisper” rather than dramatic power? What does this scripture teach us about God’s sovereignty even when we feel ineffective or alone?
