When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will

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2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2 (NASB)

3 When You Are in Deep Despair (The story of Elijah)

4 Key Principles Regarding Trials: When you encounter a trial. CONSIDER IT JOY The way of a trial is THROUGH the trial. OUT Sometimes God leads us in ways that we do not understand in order to GROW US STRONG in Him. In order to move forward in life, and out of the trial, requires the ability to. FORGIVE When great despair occurs greater HOPE is needed.

5 Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth. So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe.so Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal s prophets are 450 men. 1 Kings 18:1-2, 20-22, (NASB)

6 Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God. And all the people said, That is a good idea. 1 Kings 18:23-24, (NASB)

7 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God. 1 Kings 18:36-40, (NASB)

8 Then Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape. So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Now Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower. So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. So he went up and looked and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go back seven times. 1 Kings 18:40-43, (NASB)

9 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, a cloud as small as a man s hand is coming up from the sea. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you. In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. 1 Kings 18:44-46, (NASB)

10 Sometimes the greatest of triumphs are followed by the deepest despair. Even Christ-followers can, and will, experience times of deep despair.

11 Despair Defined: The complete loss or absence of confidence and hope. Despair leads to. DEPRESSION

12 Depression Understood: My self-view Physiological Factors the DEPRESSION tumor Spiritual Attacks

13 The Four Factors of Elijah s Depression: 1) FEAR 1 Kings 19:1-3, Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

14 The Four Factors of Elijah s Depression: 1) FEAR 2) FAILURE 1 Kings 19:4, But he himself went a day s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.

15 The Four Factors of Elijah s Depression: 1) FEAR 2) FAILURE 3) FATIGUE 1 Kings 19:5, He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, Arise, eat.

16 The Four Factors of Elijah s Depression: 1) FEAR 2) FAILURE 3) FATIGUE 4) FUTILITY 1 Kings 19:9-10, Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? Elijah said, I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left

17 God s Response 1 Kings 19:11-13, So God said to Elijah, Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?

18 God s Response 1 Kings 19:11-13, So God said to Elijah, Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?

19 When great despair occurs greater is needed. HOPE

20 Hope in things = distracted Hope in people = disappointed Hope in myself = devastated Hope in Christ = DELIVERED