Cure For The Blues

1 Ki 19:1-6

Elijah was a heroic man. He defied kings, he beat hundreds of the priests of Baal. He swayed the people of Israel back to Jehovah. He was God’s spokesman. He was human.

After so many great, almost super-human things Elijah did, we also see he just like us. He got depressed and discouraged. Whenever I read the Bible I am heartened by the fact that it doesn’t paint these men and women of God as perfect. God shows them as great people of God who also had warts. It brings hope to me, because I am far too aware of my warts. If the Bible only showed people as perfect, I probably wouldn’t try to be a servant of God, because I couldn’t be perfect like them. Seeing them as having flaws as well and greatness, makes me realize God can use me for his glory even if I am not perfect.

There is something else that is important from this text. It shows us how God can cure our depression and discouragement. There are times when I get really discouraged. From stories like this, I can gain some insights on how God cares for me even in times of discouragement and depression.

PRAYER

I. From Mountaintop to Valley

A. Have you ever wondered how Elijah could have gone from the heroic stand on Mount Carmel to hiding in a cave in less than a week?

1. He had stood up to King Ahab

2. He stood up to the prophets of Baal

3. But something about Jezebel terrified him.

a) Her intimidation was more powerful to him than God’s protection.

b) This woman did what no other seem able to do.

c) She cowed the man of God.

B. First, Elijah wasn’t thinking realistically or clearly

1. This wasn’t a threat from God, it was from a unbelieving woman who lived a godless life.

2. If Elijah was thinking clearly he wouldn’t have been scared by her threats.

3. instead of praying for strength during this attack he ran for cover.

C. Second, Elijah separated himself from relationships that could have strengthened him.

1. In a time of great need, Elijah left someone who could have offered him strength and encouragement.

2. What an idiot!, Oh wait, I’ve done that too.

3. Not long ago I was working with a person who said they were going to stay away from church until they got a problem worked out.

4. Folks, that’s just not good sense.

a) When we are vulnerable and depressed we need someone who is going to encourage us and give us good counsel.

b) trying to make important decisions about your life when you are depressed is about the worst kind of stupid we ca do.

c) You aren’t thinking realistically, you can only see the downside of everything, everything looks bad.

d) I know, I’ve been there done that.

e) I’ll be first to admit I was stupid.

5. These are times when we need fellow Christians the most.

6. This is exactly the purpose God instituted the church coming together after worship to God.

D. third, Elijah was physically and emotionally spent

1. Elijah has spent 3 years being on the king’s hit list

2. Besides looking over his shoulder all the time, he also spent that time living in the desert away from everyone he knew and cared about.

3. Then there was the confrontation with the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal.

a) Even though he had one that battle, he had to be emotionally exhausted.

b) When you feel the weight of the lives and souls of people on your shoulders, even when things are going well and smoothly it is stressful.

c) Elijah didn’t even have the benefit of a smooth ministry.

d) The most common day for ministers to resign from their churches is Monday. All week long you prepare for Sunday. It’s the climax really of our week. When Monday comes and you can exhale, it’s exhausting. It’s exhausting when everything is going well, and it unbelievable discouraging on Monday when things aren’t going well.

e) This was Monday for Elijah

E. Fourth, Elijah got lost in self-pity

1. self-pity can eat us alive

a) it lies to us

b) it will exaggerate to us

c) it makes us miserable

2. Elijah was in the worst part of self-pity.

a) he was so deep in self-pity he just wanted to die

b) I might as well die because I am no better than my fathers.

3. Let’s think about that.

a) Who said he had to be better than his fathers?

b) Certainly not God, it was something he came up with himself.

c) But in a state of self-pity, you can’t see the inconsistencies of your thinking.

d) The biggest problem with self-pity is that it sets us up to try to set unrealistic standards, and when we can’t reach those standard, we sink even deeper in despair.

II. God Comes To Elijah

A. God helped Elijah deal with his blues

1. READ vs 5-8

2. This text begins a whole section of God ministering to Elijah in his blues and helping him come out of them.

3. There are several things we can learn about God and his willingness to help us get out of the blues.

B. First, God allowed Elijah a time of rest and refreshment

1. God didn’t come to Elijah and start lecturing him.

2. First he let him rest and refresh himself.

3. We get so wrapped up in thinking that we must be working all the time that we have completely forgotten the concept of Sabbath.

4. There is nothing wrong with rest and refreshing ourselves. In fact, it quite biblical.

C. Second, God communicated wisely with Elijah

1. God didn’t cuff him on the back of the head and say “snap out of it.”

2. He didn’t shout at him or berate him.

3. He asked him a question.

a) What are you doing here Elijah?

b) Elijah starts to whine still filled with self-pity and God lets him get it out of his system.

4. Then he convinces Elijah he needs to get out of the cave.

a) doesn’t depression seem like a cave?

b) It a dark, lightless time of existence.

c) God says we need to get into the light and experience him.

d) First a huge wind come ripping through, but God wasn’t in the wind.

e) Then a tremendous earth quake and God wasn’t in that either.

f) Then a great fire, and God wasn’t in that either.

g) He came in a gentle wind.

5. Elijah would have expected God in anything but a gentle wind.

a) Yet, it was that gentle wind that brought him out of the cave.

b) God knows how we need to be connected with him and provides that opportunity.

6. God knew Elijah couldn’t just sit there or he would continue in his self-pity, so He reminds Elijah that he has a job to do.

7. Oh and by the way Elijah, you aren’t alone. There are still 7000 who haven’t worshipped Baal and are still faithful to me.

8. That’s when he could be blunt with Elijah.

D. He have Elijah a close personal friend.

1. The end of the chapter is about Elijah and Elisha.

2. after nurturing and refreshing Elijah, after giving him wise counsel, building significance in him again and showing him God’s plan, God gives one more thing to Elijah, a close personal friend.

3. Elisha ministers to him and helps him get back on track in serving God.

III. Conclusion

A. We all get depressed and discouraged

1. Sometimes it isn’t much, other times they are great crashing waves.

2. It’s easy to get stuck in self-pity during those times, but look for God. He’s there ready to encourage you and get you back on track.

3.