
James 5:17 - Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! (NLT)
Jonah 4:3 - Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” (NLT)
Jeremiah 9:1 - If only my head were a pool of water, I would weep day and night … 2 Oh, that I could go away and forget my people and live in a travelers’ shack in the desert … (NLT)
1 Kings 19:1 - When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 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.” (NLT)
GOD’S CURE FOR THE BLUES:
1) Get some
Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. —1 Kings 19:5-6 (NLT)
2) Get
Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. —1 Kings 19:7-8 (NLT)
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” —1 Timothy 4:8
3) Get Control of your Emotions and
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” —1 Kings 19:10 (NLT)
”The Lord is on my side; I will not fear what man can do unto me.” —Psalm 118:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
4) Get
“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. 12 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)
5) Get focused on your
Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. —1 Kings 19:15-16 (NLT)
6) Get back to
“I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” —1 Kings 19:18
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. —2 Corinthians 4:8-9
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BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS
LIFE GROUP LEADERS: TAKE ATTENDANCE!!
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1) Some times we can get the blues because of:
-Dealing with difficult people
-Physical and emotional exhaustion
-Prolonged isolation
-Unrealistic goals
-The crash after an adrenaline rush of successes followed by setbacks
-Recent failure
-Failing to reach unrealistic goals
What seems to give you the blues more often than anything else?
2) When we face difficult times, there are often a variety of initial indicators. What are some of the typical indicators that stressful or tough times have arrived?
3) There are a variety of ways to refresh and recharge our batteries when life is hitting us hard. What do you do (or wish you did) to get your energy and focus back on track?
4) What blessed you the most from this week’s sermon?
5) What do you notice in the following passage that Jeremiah did to help him in the midst of his “blues”?
Jeremiah 20:11 - But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. 13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For though I was poor and needy, he rescued me from my oppressors. (NLT)
Can you think of any verses, attributes or characteristics of God that have helped you through difficult times?
6) God recognizes we need time to recoup and refresh. Read Mark 1:35-39 and 6:30-32 and note the importance of getting away to refresh.
Mark 1:35 - Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” (NLT)
Mark 6:30 - The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. (NLT)
What’s the difference between healthy “alone time” and unhealthy “isolation”?
7) Living out our calling is how God has designed us to live. In fact, the enemy would love to keep us ineffective and confused about our purpose. Jesus makes our calling in life very clear in passages such as these:
Matthew 22:37 - Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 28:19 - Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
How do Jesus’ words help us keep our focus simple?
What might be challenging or confusing for you?
8) To keep from getting the “blues,” go to our website at hbchurch.net and sign-up for our upcoming ministry events such the “Art Bizarro Bash” to raise suicide awareness in our community, the launch of our “Surf School” ministry on June 11 that will continue every Saturday afterwards, and our “Drive-Thru Prayer” ministry that takes the love of Christ to the streets!
9) List prayer request here and pray for one another.