Hope in the Highs and Lows (Stories of Hope Series)

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The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.

Hope in the Highs and Lows

Scripture Passage:  1 Kings 19

Supporting Scripture:  Romans 15:4 - The Bible offers us hope and encouragement.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4

We all have highs and lows in life, including Elijah.

In the high times, don't take your eyes off of God.  Don't forget the One who allows us to experience the high times, the One who pours out our blessings.

In the low spots, get your eyes on Jesus.

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.” - 1 Kings 19:1-4

Elijah was in a low spot.

1.  When people feel hopeless, they don't think clearly.

2.  In Elijah's case, he was away from any positive influence during this time.  In our own lives, when we feel hopeless, we tend to stop answering phone messages, attending normal social gatherings, etc.

Isolation is not healthy.

Another thing to remember is that we are most vulnerable to lows after we've experienced a high.

3.  Elijah was exhausted.  Sleep deprivation is not healthy.  When we don't get enough sleep - when we are tired and hungry - things seem worse than they are.

4.  Elijah wallowed in self pity.

Let's not look down on people who ask God to take their lives.  Many strong God-followers in the Bible did the same thing.

In Elijah's case, God did not give him a sermon or shame him.

What did God do?

He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.”  Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.  The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 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?” - 1 Kings 19:5-9

1.  God came to Elijah.  God will come to us.  

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18

When people hurt, sometimes they just need a touch, a hug, or an embrace.

2.  God listened to Elijah.

3.  God gave Elijah a Word. (verse 7)

God touched Elijah and gave him food.  Nourishment is important.  Healthy eating habits help us when we are feeling hopeless.  Bad eating habits make us feel worse and magnify low moments in our lives.  Rest is also important.

What does God say to us?

1.  We have God's ministry of provision and protection in the highs and the lows.  

We should also remember that prosperity is not necessarily our great teacher.  Adversity is our great teacher.

2.  We must be immersed in truth to defeat lies.

3.  We must go forward with God after victory and also after defeat.

There is a next chapter in our lives.  There is a new assignment for us.  There is a new anointing.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

 Read the rest of 1 Kings 19 here at Bible Gateway.

The Value of Trials: A Study on the Book of James

Image Credit:  Ben White - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Our prayer lives improve when we go through trials.

How to Pray Through Trials

 1.  Ask God for wisdom.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

It is not wrong to ask God for things. In fact, we’re told to ask God for things, especially wisdom.

Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-10 

It pleases God when we ask for wisdom.

Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. Wisdom is knowing God’s perspective and insight. Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge to our lives. Knowledge can fail us without wisdom.

We will never get God’s wisdom until we know God personally.  

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. – Ephesians 1:17 

Pray Ephesians 1:17 for your children and grandchildren.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1 

2. Believe God when we ask.

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. – James 1:6

 If we doubt that God will give us wisdom, he won’t give it.

For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. – James 1:7

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. – Hebrews 11:6

3. Watch God work.

God does his deepest work when we are in a trial.

During a trial, we grow closer to Jesus.

Trials open our eyes. We might see that our prayer life has suffered. We might see that we have been spending less time in God’s Word. We might see that we have become spiritually lazy.

*He washes our eyes with tears so that we can see better.”

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12 

Let God mature us through our trials. Pray through our trials.  

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:4

You'll find all my posts about this study on the book of James here.