“WHEN STRONG PEOPLE HURT”
Main Text — 1 Kings 19:4–8
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 away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
Verse 5 — “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.”
Verse 6 — “And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.”
Verse 7 — “And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.”
Verse 8 — “And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”
Introduction
There are some people we don’t expect to break.
We don’t expect the police officer to break because the officer is supposed to protect us.
We don’t expect the firefighter to break because the firefighter runs into what everybody else runs away from.
We don’t expect the soldier to break because soldiers are trained to be tough.
We don’t expect the pastor to break because everybody comes to the pastor for prayer.
We don’t expect the strong mother or father to break because everybody in the family depends upon them.
But strong people hurt too.
Elijah was a strong man. In 1 Kings 18 he stood against the prophets of Baal. God answered him by fire.
Yet by 1 Kings 19, Elijah was sitting underneath a tree saying:
“It is enough.”
That is the language of somebody who has reached his limit.
The man who called down fire from heaven was now asking God to let him die.
Sermon Truth:
Being strong does not mean you never struggle. Sometimes being strong means recognizing when you need help.
1. STRONG PEOPLE CAN BECOME OVERWHELMED
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 away my life…”
Elijah didn’t stop being a prophet because he was hurting.
He didn’t stop belonging to God because he was discouraged.
He was overwhelmed.
Sometimes the person saying, “I’m all right,” is not all right.
Sometimes the person helping everybody else needs somebody to help them.
Don’t confuse somebody’s uniform with their emotional condition.
A badge doesn’t make you immune to pain.
A title doesn’t make you immune to depression.
A collar doesn’t make a pastor immune to discouragement.
A Bible in your hand doesn’t mean there aren’t tears in your eyes.
2. YESTERDAY’S VICTORY DOESN’T PREVENT TODAY’S STRUGGLE
1 Kings 18:38–39
Verse 38 — “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”
Verse 39 — “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”
What a victory!
But one chapter later Elijah is saying:
“It is enough.”
Never assume:
“He preached Sunday, so he’s fine.”
“She sang in the choir, so she’s fine.”
“He went to work, so he’s fine.”
“She was laughing yesterday, so she’s fine.”
People can function publicly while suffering privately.
3. EXHAUSTION CAN CHANGE HOW YOU SEE LIFE
1 Kings 19:5–6
“And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.”
Notice something powerful.
God didn’t begin by rebuking Elijah.
God allowed Elijah to rest.
Then God gave Elijah something to eat.
Sometimes a person’s spiritual condition is affected by physical and emotional exhaustion.
Psalm 127:2
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
There are times when you need prayer.
There are times when you need counseling.
There are times when you need medical attention.
And sometimes you need some rest.
4. DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE
Galatians 6:2
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
If God intended us to carry everything alone, He wouldn’t have told us to bear one another’s burdens.
There are burdens that become lighter when somebody helps you carry them.
Tell somebody:
“I’m struggling.”
“I’m not doing well.”
“I need somebody to talk to.”
“I’m afraid of what I’m thinking.”
That’s not weakness.
That may be the decision that saves your life.
5. GOD CAN HANDLE YOUR HONESTY
1 Kings 19:9
“And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”
God gave Elijah an opportunity to talk.
Church must be a place where people can tell the truth.
Not:
“How are you?”
“Blessed and highly favored!”
when inside you’re falling apart.
Psalm 62:8
“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
God says:
Pour it out!
Tell Him you’re angry.
Tell Him you’re tired.
Tell Him you’re afraid.
Tell Him you’re confused.
Tell Him you’re hurting.
God would rather hear your broken prayer than lose you in your silence.
6. YOUR PRESENT PAIN DOES NOT CANCEL YOUR FUTURE
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Elijah thought:
“It’s over.”
God said, in effect:
“No, Elijah. I still have something for you to do.”
1 Kings 19:15
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus…”
I love those words:
“GO, RETURN.”
Elijah said:
“Take my life.”
God said:
“You’ve still got life to live.”
Elijah saw an ending.
God saw another assignment.
Don’t make a permanent decision because of a temporary season of unbearable pain.
Stay long enough to see what God has next.
7. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WALK ALONE
God eventually connected Elijah with Elisha.
1 Kings 19:19
“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him… and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.”
Elijah had been saying:
“I, even I only, am left.”
But God showed Elijah:
“You’re not alone.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
Everybody needs somebody who can help them get back up.
