I’m so glad you stopped by! This is a message I preached back in November of last year, and it has been so strong on my heart again. If you have ever found yourself in a place that has left you wondering how in the world you got there and why… if you have ever been stuck in a pit of any kind, then this message is for you! I’m telling you; there is help and hope in the Word of God for you!
The following Psalm was written by King David himself in celebration of God’s deliverance. May this be our heart’s triumphant cry too!
Psalm 30:1-5,8,10-12 ESV
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol (the grave);
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
8
To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
10
Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
(The following illustrations are provided by SermonCentral.com)
- In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. He couldn’t eat, and he avoided his friends. The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition. Concluding that his patient needed to have a good time, the physician told him about a circus in town and its star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. Night after night he had the people rolling in the aisles. “You must go and see him,” the doctor advised. “Grimaldi is the world’s funniest clown. He’ll make you laugh and cure your sadness.” “No,” replied the despairing man, “He can’t help me. You see, I am Grimaldi!” (Original story here)
- Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life’s calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not.” But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life thoroughly vindicated his bout with discouragement. (Original story here)
What can we learn from these two stories? Have you ever seen yourself in either of these scenarios? The clown had invested his life in bringing utter joy to everyone else, but found that happiness had eluded his own despairing heart. Perhaps you were surprised to learn of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most successful and inspirational US presidents in history, yet he seriously contemplated ending his life. This message includes so much more than overcoming depression. I am talking about a pit of any kind, a place that has taken you farther and deeper than you ever expected, and you are searching for some hope and help to dig your way back out. And, if not you, maybe this is someone you know.
We all go through seasons. It is a part of human nature. If you are alive, you will experience a variety of seasons… emotional terrain… spiritual highs and lows… mountain top experiences and treacherous valleys… well-watered gardens and barren deserts in your life. It happens to us all. However, what we will learn today is what to do when you find yourself in a dry spell, or a pit, or a season of discouragement. We don’t have to merely accept this and allow ourselves to remain stuck in the muck and the mire of life. God has a plan, and He has given us multiple examples in His Word to encourage and instruct us.
We all find ourselves at one point or another in a place where we wonder how in the world we got there and why…
- · It may be a bout of depression, loss of joy, discouragement, the blahs, or just feeling numb.
- · Maybe you just don’t feel as close to God as you used to.
- · It could be a sin or addiction that has gotten out of control.
- · A broken relationship, or a broken heart
- · A critical attitude or a bitterness toward someone, refusal to forgive
- · A stagnant spiritual life or a stalled desire to study God’s Word, worship, or spend time in His presence.
- · A sense of dryness when you come to church.
- · Overwhelmed by the stress of life, work, home, family, finances, health…
- I’m sure all of us can add more examples here too!
If this you, I want you to know that there is HELP AND HOPE in God’s Word for you today. You do not have to remain in the drought. As Elijah said in 1 Kings 18:41, “I hear the sound of an abundance of rain!”
You have seen others refuse to step out of their pits, and you have also seen the consequences. But, that does not have to be YOUR story. Today can be different for you!
Here are some examples of mighty men of faith who also found themselves in a pit. Often, this was immediately following a tremendous victory or outpouring of anointing – Elijah, Jonah, David, Jeremiah, Paul, to name a few.
Picture it: Elijah was one of the mightiest men of God in history. He carried the weight of a powerful anointing of God. He had been God’s instrument in numerous miracles, even raising a dead boy to life. How exciting must his journey have been! Yet, on the heels of one of the greatest spiritual victories ever recorded, he finds himself wallowing in a pit of fear and depression, even to the point of suicide. Yes, he wanted to die.
Jonah had just incited a national revival in Ninevah, and the entire city repented and was transformed. What does Jonah do? He sits on top of a hill and pouts. When the sun became too hot, he wanted to die. Yes, this was after one of the greatest revivals in history!
Jeremiah and David were both gifted writers who penned their weariness, fear, pain, and lament for future generations to ponder. Reading through the books of Psalms and Lamentations, we can find copious verses of despair and tragedy that can actually be a source of comfort and healing when we find ourselves battling similar emotions. How encouraging to know that these tremendous men of God also experienced seasons of grief, yet found their solace and hope in the Lord.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:5, “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.” A study of the book of Acts and the missionary travels of Paul would reveal a life of relentless persecution and imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel. Yet even in the pits of prison, he is found praising God and writing words of encouragement and instruction from the Holy Spirit to the early churches- in spite of his predicament. What a difference response to his predicament! Out of his pit came his greatest ministry, and yours can too!
What I am seeing from these examples is that if you are going through a dry season, you are in pretty good company. You are not alone, but you do not have to stay there!
Let’s go back to the first example, the mighty Elijah and stay with him for awhile.
You may be familiar with the great victory on Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18. Elijah had declared that there would be no rain in the land until he 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 Ahserah 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 came the sound of the “abundance of rain!” Chalk up another great victory! Right then, the Holy Spirit came upon Elijah, and he ran so fast that he made it to Jezreel before King Ahab could get there in his horse-drawn chariot. Talk about a man full of the Spirit of God and walking in a mighty victory! Can this really be the same person who would later wallow in a state of depression begging to die?
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 time, 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…
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 it can happen to any of us. There is no shame when you find yourself here. Notice that instead of condemning or reprimanding Elijah, God sent an angel to minister to him.
Please understand, in the same way, this message 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. God took care of Elijah’s physical needs first. He had become exhausted and famished. 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:
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, 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. Have we become wonder junkies? Are we looking for God to move only in the spectacular, then we miss Him altogether? 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.
We must be careful not to assume that if we aren’t seeing the magnificent, than 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. Notice God’s question to Elijah, “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, “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 before you can receive God’s deliverance.
4. What is your perception? Elijah’s perception was all wrong. He believed the enemy’s lies. Only truth will set us free!
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. He 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 these times alone. He provided a companion, rulers, and a crowd of support just when Elijah needed it, and you have a team of support right here in your church 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 his servant 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.
God provided Elisha for Elijah at just the right time, and Elisha would prove to be a source of strength and companionship to Elijah for the rest of his life. Who is your Elisha?
Who is your Titus? Let’s take a quick trip back to Paul for just a moment as we mentioned at the beginning.
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?
Do not neglect Godly relationships. We need each other!
6. 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.
- Take care of your physical health as well as your emotional and spiritual well being.
- 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.
- Recognize where you are. Assess the reality of your situation. “What are you doing here?”
- Know the truth, and it will set you free. Saturate yourself in God’s Word. Your answers are there!
- Allow God to strengthen you through others. Let’s bear each other’s burdens.
- 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.
Img source: FB/BelieveJustKeepBelieving
I loved this Shari! I needed this tonight. God led me to this at just the right time. Thank you!
I am so happy to hear that! God knows just what we need when we need it. Be encouraged and blessed!