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Elijah: God Is There In Our Darkest Days 1 Kings 19:1-21

Elijah: God Is There In Our Darkest Days 1 Kings 19:1-21. Depression is an illness that has plagued many people, including Christians Not all incidents of prolonged sadness or despair are cases of clinical depression. There is a stigma attached to mental illnesses.

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Elijah: God Is There In Our Darkest Days 1 Kings 19:1-21

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  1. Elijah: God Is There In Our Darkest Days1 Kings 19:1-21 • Depression is an illness that has plagued many people,including Christians • Not all incidents of prolonged sadness or despair are cases of clinical depression. • There is a stigma attached to mental illnesses. • Depression is a complex problem. • Even God’s greatest servants are not immune to feelings of despair. • Elijah in his darkest moment God was there to help him get through his despair

  2. James 5:17 (NIV) Elijah was a man just like us. • Feelings of despair not uncommon among leaders of God’s people: • Moses: • Numbers 11:14–15 (NIV) I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

  3. Jonah: discouraged by God sparing Nineveh - he just wanted to die. • Apostle Paul: • 2 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV) - We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. • Feeling of despair are a common human experience.

  4. 1. Elijah’s Depression: • a. We take our focus off of God • 1 Kings 19:1–3 (NIV) - Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “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.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. • Elijah lost sight of God in the situation he found himself in. • Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him.

  5. b. We isolate ourselves from others • 1 Kings 19:3–4 (NIV) When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. • Loneliness can feed despair. • Isolation can also lead to feelings of self-pity.

  6. 1 Kings 19:10 (NIV) [Elijah] replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” • When we are feeling down we need people around us to provide encouragement.

  7. c. We have too high expectations • We are most vulnerable to discouragement and despair when we have just experienced an emotional high. • Elijah had just been used by God to demonstrate his incredible power. • Elijah was on a spiritual high. • The realities of life hit home: Jezebel threatened his life • Sometimes we set ourselves up for feelings of defeat because we misunderstand what God is trying to do in our lives.

  8. The times most favourable to fits of depression, so far as I have experienced, may be summed up in a brief catalogue.  First among them I must mention the hour of great success.  When at last a long-cherished desire is fulfilled, when God has been glorified greatly by our means, and a great triumph achieved, then we are apt to faint.  It might be imagined that amid special favours our soul would soar to heights of ecstasy, and rejoice with joy unspeakable, but it is generally the reverse.  The Lord seldom exposes His warriors to the perils of exultation over victory; he know that few of them can endure such a test, and therefore dashes their cup with bitterness... (Charles Spurgeon)

  9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” • Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. • God wants to strengthen our faith and empower us for service but he does it THROUGH the trials of life not by eliminating them.

  10. d. We are physically and emotionally spent • King Ahab called Elijah – “the troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:17) • Elijah had lived for over three years in the wilderness. • He had just confronted the spiritual forces of Satan and stood alone against the prophets of Baal. • Elijah was emotionally and physically exhausted. • 1 Kings 19:4 (NIV) “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;”

  11. 2. God’s Response • a. God provides refreshment • 1 Kings 19:5–6 (NIV) Then [Elijah] lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

  12. God brings reprieve in our struggles never allowing us to face more than we can handle. • 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

  13. b. God provides assurance • 1 Kings 19:8–13 (NIV) Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God…And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”… “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” …And after…came a gentle whisper. • God spoke to Elijah to reassure him that he was not alone.

  14. c. God provides support • God showed Elijah that he would punish King Ahab and Queen Jezebel • God tells Elijah to anoint Elisha – someone to support him in his ministry as he passes on the baton to the next prophet of God. • When it seems like we are all alone in our despair God brings people into our lives to share the burden we are facing. • We need to let them into our lives.

  15. Depression is a complex problem. • There are times when you need to get good medical help. • But there are also times when we contribute to our own feelings of despair because we have lost sight of God at work in us. • Look to God for strength • Spend time in his Word • Allow others to reach out to support us. • Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

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