I've Been Through the Desert

Story

Welcome/why

Story of James

This month is Suicide Prevention month

Last year we lost 49,449 lives last year to suicide

The Truth is that about 1 in 10 people deal with some kind of depression

and suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of kids 10-14

The Truth is that so many suffer from this and many of us will never know

Reasons for depression

Biological

Relational

Circumstantial

Spiritual

I’m not a physiologist

I’m a Pastor

Proverbs 12:25 NIV

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

There is healing in the Word of God

Gideon’s healing story

There is healing in the Word of God

One of the big reasons people fall into depression is because of discouragement

I prayed for ____

I thought things were going to be different

I thought my loneliness would go away after marriage

The enemy uses the trap of discouragement to drive us farther into the despair that we feel

Set up the story after 1st verse

1 Kings 19:1–9 NIV

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Eli let the discouragement in and ran

left his servant

which meant that he was leaving his calling

went into the middle of nowhere

and asked to die

Eli let his discouragement in

which led to Fear,

which led to abandonment of his mission

which led to loss of his identity

Eli than found his identity in his failure v4b

How Many of Us Are Feeling Discouraged?

Things didn’t go our way?

things are not happening that we thought they would?

we feel like our waiting will end up being an eternity

God Called me to be a pastor many years before he let me know

How Many of Us Are Feeling Like We Are A Failure

We tried so hard and things did not go our way

we made some mistakes and now the guilt and shame overcome our very being

How Many of Us Lost Our Identity?

We don’t even see ourselves in the mirror

not sure who we really are?

We have let our failure define our identities

The Good News Is That We Have A God That Cares

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

God does not want you to be depressed

Psalm 9:9 NIV

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:18 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Romans 8:17 NIV

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

You Might be thinking I’m good

We (The Church as a whole) Need to do Better Helping Those Who Are Suffering

The Church as a whole has dropped the ball

If You are sick we would say, Go to a Doc

If You broke Your arm, God to the ER

If you are depressed, It will be ok, then we move on many times

Hebrews 13:16 NIV

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Galatians 6:10 NIV

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The stigma of going to a counselor needs to die

spiritually speaking, we need to go to him when we start the feel that spiral happen we need to stop and train our selves to stop take a moment to pray, and reach out to him