What a wild shift in the mood from last week’s study to this week’s – from a powerful demonstration of God’s strength on Mt. Carmel to a tender moment of soul care under the broom tree for a gravely depressed prophet of God. I have truly enjoyed the tremendous relevant and practical lessons we can all glean from this portion of Elijah’s story. I can relate to Elijah’s feelings of despair in this chapter, and I believe we all go through similar moments or seasons in which we can benefit from the precepts of “Soul Care” found here.

I am going to approach this week’s blog from a different perspective. I typically write a summary of each day’s personal study to help everyone get the most out of the practical lessons within and in preparation for the small group discussions. However, I have written my own notes from this part of the story that I used in a sermon I preached about three years ago. I found six crucial points from 1 Kings 19 concerning God’s deliverance when we find ourselves in a pit and about taking care of ourselves to prevent burn out and depression. I have included links to each portion of the chapter, and I recommend that you read the corresponding verses with each point.

Have you ever found yourself in a pit over your head, and there seemed to be no way out? How did you get that far? You have served God with all your heart, and then one day, the passion suddenly disappeared. Well, I am here to tell you that there is hope. Consider this the hand you need to pull you back out!

One of my favorite Bible stories of all time is the one with Elijah on Mt. Carmel that we studied last week from 1 Kings 18. How exciting when he socked it to those prophets of Baal!

Here is a quick synopsis to set the stage for today’s lesson. Elijah had declared that there would be no rain in the land until he, himself, called for it because King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had essentially run the nation of God’s chosen people into the toilet with their worship of Baal and Asherah. Finally, after the land had suffered severally from the drought, it was time to do something about it. Elijah called all of the prophets of Baal and Asherah together to settle the score once and for all.

There they met on top of Mt. Carmel, and it was on! The false prophets went first. They beat themselves to a frenzy as they begged and cried out to their gods who never answered. Conversely, Elijah prayed a simple prayer to the one, true, living God who answered with fire. It consumed the sacrifice, the altar, and even licked up all the water in the surrounding trenches. Yes, God proved what a mighty God He is!

Soon after this victory came the sound of the “abundance of rain!” Chalk up another great victory for the people of God! Immediately after this event, the Holy Spirit came upon Elijah, and he ran so fast that he made it to the town of Jezreel before King Ahab could get there in his horse-drawn chariot. Yes, he ran faster than a horse! Talk about a man full of the Spirit of God and walking (or running!) in a mighty victory!

Can this really be the same person who just moments later would be wallowing in a state of depression begging to die? From a mighty victory to a death wish in a matter of a few verses?

Here is where the story turns and where we might even relate a bit. We too have experienced some of the most extraordinary victories in the church and in our lives at times, but we are often drawn by the temptation to subsist on those past experiences rather than continually seeking God for fresh bread. Consequently, our old bread is getting stale, and it no longer sustains us. We then find ourselves “dry and crusty.”

Moving on, let’s see what caused this change in Elijah…

(1 Kings 19: 1-5 NIV)

Queen Jezebel had threatened Elijah’s life after this, and he ran into the desert horrified to the point of suicide. Catch this. Elijah had gone straight from a mighty victory to a suicidal death wish in a mere moment. He found himself in the depths of despair, and that very same thing can happen to any of us. There is no shame when you find yourself here. Notice in this Scripture that instead of condemning or reprimanding Elijah, God sent an angel to minister to him.

Please understand, in the same way, this is not to condemn any of you or step on anyone’s toes if you are in a difficult place. Rather, this is meant to offer the same help and hope to you that Elijah experienced. If even one of the greatest men of God in history can slip into such a desert place, it can happen to any of us. However, the lessons in this chapter can be just the hand that you need to pull you out.

I see six crucial points of God’s deliverance from this story:

1. Your physical needs are important.

God took care of Elijah’s physical needs first. Elijah had become exhausted and famished after the ordeal at Mt. Carmel and his run to Jezreel. It is not uncommon for us to feel wiped out after experiencing a season of spiritual success, but that can be a dangerous place. We often let our guard down and don’t even notice the slump until it hits us hard. Physical exhaustion can lead us to a pit, and the pit can deplete us physically. It is a never-ending cycle, but God understands that very well, as is evidenced in the next several verses:

(1 Kings 19:5-8)

Then he lay down under the bush 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 some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 1 Kings 19:5-6 NIV

We are tri-dimensional beings. We are body, soul, and spirit. When one is weak or damaged, it affects the rest. Elijah had become physically weak, and before God could provide the spiritual healing he needed, Elijah needed to be fortified physically. God allowed him to sleep for a while first, and then He sent an angel to provide nourishing food to strengthen him for his journey. So, yes, there are times the most important thing we need is a good meal and some rest.

So, practically speaking, I want to ask you, how are you taking care of your physical health? How are you maintaining the Temple of the Holy Spirit? Our entire perspective and ability to rise up out of our desert place is greatly influenced by our physical health. Make sure you are eating well, avoiding junk, drinking plenty of water, exercising, balancing work and rest, and getting plenty of sleep so that you will be strong enough to fight the good fight. You see, God does care about your physical being too!

2. Listen for God’s still small voice.

Have we become wonder junkies?  Let’s look at one more area that can keep us in a pit and missing out on hearing from God. Sometimes we become fixated on expecting God to move only in the spectacular, then we miss Him when He tries to speak to us in the ordinary of life, or His still, small voice. Do we expect God to move only according to our past experiences? Just like Elijah, sometimes we must learn to find God where He is and listen to His still, small voice, even in the ordinary moments of life.

(1 Kings 19:9-13)

…and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:12b NKJV

We must be careful not to assume that if we aren’t seeing the magnificent, then God must not be at work at all. God cannot be boxed in to our limited boxes of personal experience. When we try to limit God, we miss Him altogether. Sometimes, He speaks to us in a still small voice, or even in the mundane. We need to learn to recognize Him however He chooses to reveal Himself to us.

Don’t give up or become discouraged because God isn’t moving in the way You want or expect Him to. He is very much alive and active in the church and in our lives. Don’t miss Him because it doesn’t look like you think it should. Don’t allow yourself to dry out when He offers plentiful streams of living water to refresh you right here, in this place, right now.

On the other hand, don’t use this as an excuse to settle for a dull and lifeless spiritual life either. Keep your eyes open and seek Him with all that is in you. He has promised that you WILL find Him when you look for Him with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Instead of seeking wonders, seek God. The wonders will follow.

3. Recognize where you are right now.

Notice God’s question to Elijah in verse 13, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He wanted Elijah to see himself, hiding in a dark and lonely cave. What a pitiful situation! Elijah needed to know where he was before he could go where he was going.

God is asking us the same question. “What are you doing here?” Not to condemn us or make us feel bad. He wants us to see how far we have drifted so we can see our way back to Him and the center of His will for us. So, the question remains for us, “Where are you and what are you doing here?”

Think about it. What is your pit? What is in your life that doesn’t belong there? Where have you become dry and barren? How far have you drifted from the passionate warrior of God you used to be? You need to recognize it and define your pit before you can receive God’s deliverance.

4. The truth will set us free.

What is your perception? Elijah’s perception was all wrong in the next few verses. He thought He was completely alone, and he could only see the bleakness of the circumstances around him. He believed the enemy’s lies, and we can also become entrapped by Satan’s deception. He would like for us to be consumed by our difficulties and be unable to see anything but the dark side of our problems. He would love for us to feel isolated and hopeless. What do you believe about your situation? How do you see yourself? Only truth will set us free!

(1 Kings 19:13b-18)

It is interesting to me that the majority of Elijah’s fear was based on misinformation. I don’t want to belittle his fears of Jezebel, because she really did want to kill him. She was an evil woman. She had killed other prophets of God before, and she could certainly do it again. However, Elijah truly believed that he was all alone, and that was the basis of his despair. He said in verse 14, “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

However, God explained to him in verse 18 that there were 7,000 others in Israel who were with him. Wow! He certainly was NOT alone. Elijah had been brooding over a lie!

How many times have we slumped into a pit because we misunderstood a situation or a person? We keep replaying conversations or moments in our minds until we have built up hurt and bitterness, yet we had misinterpreted it all along. If we had only gone to the person to work it out and communicate truth, we would have avoided all kinds of pain!

Sometimes, we wallow in fear or shame because we have assessed our situation incorrectly. We worry or become depressed because we only see one piece of the puzzle or have limited understanding of a situation. We may not see the provision or the answer that is right there around the corner, and we fret through our darkened misunderstandings.

Satan revels in this. If He can get us to believe anything about ourselves, our God, or our situation that is untrue, He can have power over our thinking. He can then hold us hostage to his pit of lies. The only way out is to see the truth, and God revealed just that to Elijah.

John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

5. There is strength in numbers.

God never intended for us to go through difficulties alone. He provided a companion, a group of rulers, and a crowd of support just when Elijah needed it, and it is also God’s plan for us to draw strength from each other as well. They is why it is so important to be connected with the body of Christ. We need each other!

When Elijah had traveled with his servant, he left him in Beersheba so he could continue on and collapse in the desert all by himself. He had isolated himself on purpose. That was his problem, and it is often our default reaction as well.

Our first instinct is often to withdraw and isolate ourselves when we need each other the most. We are to do this thing called life as the body of Christ, not as isolated individuals that are more susceptible to the enemy’s attacks. Remember, there is strength in numbers. A chord of three strands is not easily broken.

At this point in the story, after God had revealed that there were actually 7,000 other prophets with Elijah and that he was certainly not alone, God also brought Elisha into his life. He became a close friend and ministry partner for Elijah, and he would prove to be a source of strength and companionship to Elijah for the rest of his life. Who is your Elisha?

Furthermore, who is your Titus? Let’s take a quick trip to Paul’s story for just a moment for a parallel example.

2 Corinthians 7:5-6: “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. Isn’t that cool? Yes, God brought a close friend into Paul’s life right when he needed him.

Do not neglect Godly relationships. We need each other!

6. You have a purpose.

Finally, God reminded Elijah that he still had a purpose, but he had to make the move. As long as you have breath, as long as you have a beating heart, God has a divine purpose for your life.

God commanded Elijah in verse 15, “GO back the way you came.” God didn’t do everything for poor, pitiful Elijah. He didn’t coddle him or make excuses for him. Even in the midst of his despair, God said,

GO!

God doesn’t feel sorry for us and watch us lick our wounds in self-pity. Rather, He says to get up and go. Put one foot in front of the other. It is time to get back into the purpose for which He has called you.

He asks, “What are you doing here?” Then He says, “Go.”

What is holding you back from fulfilling the calling God has placed on your life?

What is sealing your joy?

What is holding you in your pit, or your desert place?

We have all been there, but not one of us has to stay there. Today is your day!

God has provided everything you need to get back on track. He is more than ready, willing, and able to deliver you right here and right now. Give it to Him. Trust Him. Allow Him to set you free. Get ready to find that sweet spot of being smack dab in the center of God’s perfect will for your life again.

In summary:

1. Take care of your physical health as well as your emotional and spiritual well being. Eat well and rest well.
2. Instead of seeking wonders, seek God with all your heart. The wonders will follow. Listen to His still small voice in the ordinary of life.
3. Recognize where you are. Assess the reality of your situation. “What are you doing here?”
4. Know the truth, and it will set you free. Saturate yourself in God’s Word. Your answers are there!
5. Allow God to strengthen you through others. Let’s bear each other’s burdens.
6. Go! Give it all to God and rediscover your purpose. Get caught up in the work of the Lord, and you will find your joy again.

Psalm 40:2 NLT says

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

Discussion Questions

Ice Breaker: This week we studied the need for soul care in order to maintain our spiritual stamina. We saw the importance of allowing our souls to exhale stress and inhale God’s grace and goodness. What is your favorite way to relax?  What would your dream soul-care day be like?

QUESTION 1: Elijah prayed for something God had already promised. Although God spoke through prophets in Elijah’s day, the promises we can pray with certainty today are found in the Bible. Thus, praying Scripture can be very powerful! What verses or promises from God’s Word have you clung to in seasons of desperation or times of joy? (page 87)

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 1 Kings 19:3-4 NLT

QUESTION 2: Elijah knew what it felt like to want to quit. He wanted God to just take him to heaven. Elijah had to learn spiritual stamina in order to keep on going when he felt like quitting. Why do you think Elijah wanted to quit? Have you ever wanted to give up on God? What was the experience like?

QUESTION 3: Soul-care is vital to our spiritual stamina. Whether our schedules are full of challenging or wonderful things, lack of margin can leave us weary. Do you ever find yourself being forgetful when you feel overwhelmed? What other symptoms do you notice in your life when you are depleted emotionally, spiritually, or physically? How do physical hunger and fatigue affect you spiritually? (page 95)

QUESTION 4: What are some practical things we can do to nurture our souls? (spiritually, emotionally and physically)

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT

QUESTION 5: Whether we call it a whisper, breeze, or still small voice, God spoke to Elijah in the simple rather than the grandiose. How have you experienced God speaking to you in a “gentle whisper”? (page 105)

QUESTION 6: Can you think of a time when you wanted to quit but, after reflection and prayer, God’s instructions were to “go back the same way you came?” How did God encourage you as you went back to an old situation with a new attitude? (page 109)

Assignments for the Week

1. Click here to register, purchase the book, join our Facebook group, and subscribe to the blog to receive future updates.
2. Read 1 Kings 19:19 – 22:9
3. Read 2 Kings 1 – 8 (optional, reading through 1 and 2 Kings)
4. Study Week 4, pp. 116 – 152
5. Memorize Ecclesiastes 7:13

   Accept the way God does things,
       for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

6. Participate in a small group in our Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study Facebook page. This week we will go over what we learned from Week 2.

I hope to see you in a small group this week. Have a blessed week!