Military officers never wear shiny rank into a battle zone. It is subdued, camouflaged. Why? Enemy sniper fire. Take out the leaders and you demoralize and scatter the troops.

In the Church, every Christian is a target in Satan's scope. But to whom do you think he assigns his demon snipers? Pastors. Teachers. Elders. Leaders in the church. And missionaries, who are visibly on the front lines. When a sub-shepherd falls (Jesus is our Great Shepherd), the effect is felt throughout the flock. The entire Body suffers.

So we must protect our pastors. Take care of our teachers and elders. Uphold our missionaries in prayer. And it's not only for enemy fire that we need to be on guard. It's the wear of the battle itself. Over the last century, our terminology regarding the psychological and emotional effects of war has changed. In World War I it was "shellshock." As early as World War II, I believe, it was called "battle fatigue." In the Gulf War of the early 90s, soldiers came home suffering "post-traumatic stress syndrome."

The wording may change, but the effects of war do not.

Consider Elijah. Elijah stood alone against four hundred fifty prophets of Baal. And Elijah won. (Which is to say: God won.) Not only were the prophets of a false god defeated, they were made to show themselves as fools. Then they were seized and brought down to the valley and slaughtered.

When Queen Jezebel found out what happened, she sent a messenger to Elijah with this threat: "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them" (1 Kings 19:2).

Elijah knew what God could do. He had seen God's power firsthand. He had great faith. He had nothing to fear from Jezebel, Ahab, or anyone. Yet he was afraid - and he ran for his life. "He... went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,' he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors'" (1 Kings 19:4).

Spiritual shellshock. Physical battle fatigue. Emotional trauma. Mental stress to the breaking point.

So God let him sleep. Then God told Elijah to eat and drink food that was provided for him. God let his servant sleep some more. Then "the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you'" (1 Kings 19:7).

Retreat is a military term. Whether you do it alone with God, or with your spouse, or with other pastors or leaders, the important thing is that you do it. Get away from the fight. Rest. Eat and drink. For the journey is long, and it's not over yet.

Rev. Randy Mortenson serves as pastor of Ebenezer LBC, Mayville, ND.

By Randy Mortenson

Randy Mortenson serves as pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church, Mayville, ND. He is also the author of the re:Think column.