1 Kings 19:1-4
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. 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.”

Understand the Battle of Darkness

v. 1

Emptiness

…all Elijah had done…v. 1

Opposition

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah…v. 2

Fearfulness

And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life…v. 3

Loneliness

…and left his servant there…v. 3

Weariness

…and went a day’s journey into the wilderness…v. 4

Hopelessness

“It is enough; now O Lord, take my life…” v. 4

“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear.”

- CS Lewis

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.”

He needed to rest. He needed to be with someone. He needed to eat.

When you are
Hungry,
Angry,
Lonely,
Tired,
then HALT.

Seek rest. Seek refreshment. Seek community.

Seek to Meet with God

Psalm 14:2
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

Proverbs 8:17
“I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

God asks hard questions

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” v.9

God adjusts our perspectives

“Perhaps God has a solution and a plan that I have not considered yet. What if He sees what I cannot see?”

God gives us next steps.

1 Kings 19:15
“Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram…”

God didn’t necessarily REMOVE Elijah’s mental confusion but told him to act in faith.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me…