FOUNDATIONS LESSON #2 WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU RE DOWN IN THE DUMPS Intro. Tonight we re continuing our series with, What to do when you re down in the dumps. All of us have times when we feel low or down in the dumps Psalms 55:1-8 (NKJV) 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. 6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." I. BEING DOWN IN THE DUMPS IS NOT THAT A. THIS TRUTH SEEMS LIKE A TO OUR IDEA OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 1. Phrases from God s word talk about our victory Romans 8:37 (NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 1
a. These are very real and valid promises b. The only downside is they always follow some difficulty we ve experienced We will always have something we need to get the victory over or something to conquer God never promised a problem free life What He did promise is whatever comes our way through Christ we can overcome Having said that, being down in the dumps wasn t an uncommon experience for believers throughout the Bible 2. Most, if not all, of God s greats had down times ex. Moses, Elijah, Jonah, and Jeremiah all prayed that God would kill them or let them die. a. Throughout the Psalms David reveals the struggle he faced Psalms 13:1-2 (NIV) 1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? If you ever have a time when you re down in the dumps, you re not alone II. SEVERAL THINGS THAT A. CAN DRAG US DOWN ex. This was part of David s problem when he wrote Psalm 55. It s believed he wrote this during his son Absalom s rebellion. 2 Samuel tells the story of how Absalom stole the hearts of Israel and to avoid fighting in the streets of Jerusalem, David and some of his devoted men have to leave the city. While his own son has risen against him and forced him to leave his home, David writes about it in Psalm 55. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 2
Psalms 55:3 (NKJV) 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 1. We may not have been forced to run for our lives but all of us know what it s like to have other people drag us down It may be as simple as a few words spoken against us a. Things other people say to us, about us, or things they do can bring us down B. SOMETIMES CAN GET US DOWN Psalms 55:4-5 (NKJV) 4 My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. I believe the heart-pain David expressed was emotional more than physical But oftentimes emotional distress leads to health issues or vice versa. 1. Whether our distress is physical or emotional, it can wear us down 2. When our bodies are worn down our emotions get ragged and we may not have the same coping mechanisms that we normally have When we re physically or emotionally taxed it can get us down in the dumps C. SOMETIMES IT S JUST THAT GETS US DOWN 1. This was the real story behind the story in David s life a. His sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah had produced consequences that he was now faced with Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 3
b. Absalom s rebellion was part of those consequences c. Every time anything bad happened in David s life he probably wondered if it was some kind of payback for his past He wishes he could have dove s wings so he could fly away from the problems he s facing Psalms 55:6-8 (NKJV) 6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." All of us have had the feeling wanting to run, escape, hide ex. We may not actually run. We may still be around but we re shut down emotionally; don t want to talk to people, don t feel like going to church, or we come and we re here but we re not here. We re shut down. III. OF THE DUMPS A. WHEN WE RE DOWN IN THE DUMPS WE HAVE TO DECIDE WE RE NOT GOING TO Psalms 42:5 (NKJV) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. 1. While being down may not be uncommon, we don t have to remain that way Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 2. One of the most important things we can do when we re down is decide, I m not going to live here. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 4
a. The following is Elijah s let me die prayer 1 Kings 19:4 (NKJV) 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" b. Elijah went from praying this prayer to a despondent cave dwelling 1 Kings 19:9 (NKJV) 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" c. When we re down we need to ask ourselves, What am I doing here? B. SOMETIMES, OFTENTIMES, WE ARE SO FAR IN THE DUMPS THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH AN Psalms 40:1-2 (NKJV) 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. 1. We need to learn to unpack our hearts with words a. All of us get burdened and dragged down b. David said, I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. c. This gives the picture of God leaning forward to listen d. We need to know that God isn t aloof when we re struggling 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 5
ex. Lord, I need Your help with the kids, I need Your patience, wisdom Lord, I ve got financial pressure and I need Your help I m tired, lonely, hurt, sinful, and I need You to help me 2. This is what David did in our opening story a. He felt like running away b. But instead of running he cried out for God s help Psalms 55:16-17 (NKJV) 16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. c. Then David encourages others in verse 22 Psalms 55:22 (NKJV) Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; he shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 3. Instead of running or shutting down emotionally we can cast our burden on the Lord a. The Bible says when we cast our burden on Him, He will sustain us Sustain means to to maintain, nourish, bear, hold up. protect, support, defend, to supply the means necessary for living. again, 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 4. When we re down we need to remember these four words, He cares for you. 5. He cares enough to lift us up out of whatever pit we are in All of us get down in the dumps We need to decide I m not going to live here. Then we need to come to the One who cares for us and unpack our hearts with words Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 6
PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Jesus, thank You for paying the price for my victory. Whenever I m down or afflicted I will trust in You. I bring all my cares and cast them to You, because You care for me. I trust you to protect, support, and lift me up in Jesus name. Amen. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #3 I. BEING DOWN IN THE DUMPS IS NOT THAT UNCOMMON) A. THIS TRUTH SEEMS LIKE A (CONTRADICTION) TO OUR IDEA OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE II. SEVERAL THINGS THAT (DRAG US DOWN) A. (OTHER PEOPLE) CAN DRAG US DOWN B. SOMETIMES (HEALTH ISSUES OR STRESS) CAN GET US DOWN C. SOMETIMES IT S JUST ( US ) THAT GETS US DOWN III. (GETTING OUT) OF THE DUMPS A. WHEN WE RE DOWN IN THE DUMPS WE HAVE TO DECIDE WE RE NOT GOING TO (STAY THERE) B. SOMETIMES, OFTENTIMES, WE ARE SO FAR IN THE DUMPS THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH AN _(INTERVENTION OF GOD) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 7