Breathe Again: Finding Strength and Purpose in God

In a world that is more connected and informed than ever, many find themselves more anxious and lonely than any generation before. Even those who love God deeply—faithful believers and leaders—can find themselves in dark places, wrestling with anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and burnout. These struggles do not mean a lack of faith or love for God; they simply mean we are human, still wearing flesh, and in need of healing and God’s presence. God is not afraid of our issues or our pain. He does not bring condemnation or shame, but instead, He meets us right where we are, even in the midst of our mess.

Looking at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, we see a great prophet who, after experiencing the fire of God and miraculous victory, finds himself isolated, afraid, and hopeless. Elijah’s first response to anxiety was to step out of community and into isolation, which only magnified his pain. Isolation is the incubator of anxiety, where small worries become overwhelming and pain distorts our perspective. Yet, God’s response is not to abandon us but to pursue us, stepping into our isolation with grace and restoration.

God’s care for us is holistic. Before addressing Elijah’s spiritual needs, God first tended to his physical needs—providing food, water, and rest. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to rest, eat, and allow our bodies to recover. God knows that we are body, mind, and spirit, and when one part suffers, the others follow. He invites us to step into rhythms of grace, to rest and be restored.

When God speaks, He does so not in the chaos of the whirlwind, but in the gentle whisper. His voice is steady and faithful, like a lighthouse shining through the storm. In the midst of life’s noise and turmoil, God’s whisper is close, cutting through the darkness and guiding us home. Healing begins when we quiet ourselves enough to hear His still, small voice.

Finally, God does not just bring relief; He brings restoration and recommissioning. He calls the weary out of the cave, not just to comfort them, but to restore their purpose and send them back into the world with renewed strength and vision. Even when life feels dormant or lifeless, God is working beneath the surface, preparing new life and new purpose. He is not done with us yet. Every day we have breath, He has purpose for us—not just to survive, but to thrive.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Isolation Magnifies Pain, but God Pursues Us Relentlessly When anxiety and discouragement set in, the temptation is to withdraw from community and hide our struggles. Yet, isolation is where pain grows and perspective shrinks. God, however, does not abandon us in our hiding; He seeks us out, steps into our isolation, and begins a rescue, offering grace and restoration even when we feel most alone. [66:52]
• 2. God Cares for Our Physical Needs as Much as Our Spiritual Ones Before addressing Elijah’s spiritual despair, God first provided for his physical exhaustion with food, water, and rest. This reveals that spiritual renewal often begins with physical restoration. Sometimes, the most spiritual act is to honor the rhythms of rest and nourishment, recognizing that our bodies, minds, and spirits are deeply interconnected. [76:11]
• 3. God’s Voice is Found in the Whisper, Not the Whirlwind In moments of chaos and noise, we often expect God to speak through dramatic signs or powerful events. Yet, God’s presence is most often found in the gentle whisper—a voice so close it can only be heard in stillness. Learning to quiet the world and listen for His whisper is where true healing and guidance begin. [80:11]
• 4. Restoration is Not Just Relief, but Recommissioning God’s healing is not merely about making us comfortable or easing our pain. He restores us so that we can rise again with renewed purpose and vision. Even when we feel our story is over, God calls us out of the cave, recommissions us, and invites us to participate in His ongoing work, turning our pain into purpose. [86:44]
• 5. God is Always Working Beneath the Surface, Even in Dormant Seasons When life feels cold, lifeless, or hopeless, it is easy to mistake dormancy for death. Yet, God is always stirring beneath the surface, preparing new life and new beginnings. Trusting in His unseen work allows us to hope and expect that He is doing something new, even when we cannot yet see it. [88:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [55:58] - Night of Worship & Ordination Announcement
• [56:21] - Who We Are as a Church
• [56:52] - The Call to Breathe Again
• [57:09] - Stress and Anchoring in God’s Strength
• [57:40] - Spiritual Warfare Recap
• [57:54] - The Battle Within: Anxiety and Depression
• [58:49] - Faith and Mental Health: You’re Not Alone
• [59:41] - God Meets Us in Our Mess
• [60:31] - Elijah’s Story: From Victory to Despair
• [62:40] - Point 1: Anxiety Isolates, God Pursues
• [66:52] - God Steps Into Our Isolation
• [74:13] - Point 2: God Addresses the Physical First
• [79:38] - Point 3: God Speaks in a Whisper
• [85:12] - Point 4: God Recommissions the Weary
• [88:58] - God Works Beneath the Surface
• [91:00] - Reflection and Prayer
• [95:19] - Breathing in God’s Presence
• [98:36] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Receive
• [100:59] - Final Worship and Ministry Time

Bible Reading

1 Kings 19:3-18 (ESV) — > 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
> 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
> 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
> 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
> 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
> 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
> 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
> 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
> 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
> 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
> 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
> 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
> 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
> 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.
> 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.
> 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Psalm 34:18 (ESV) — > The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) — > Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Observation Questions

1. What was Elijah’s first response when he felt afraid and overwhelmed after his victory on Mount Carmel? (1 Kings 19:3-4; [01:00:53])
2. How did God respond to Elijah’s exhaustion and despair under the broom tree? What did God provide for him first? (1 Kings 19:5-8; [01:14:13])
3. In the story, how did God choose to speak to Elijah on the mountain? What was different about this compared to the wind, earthquake, and fire? (1 Kings 19:11-12; [01:19:38])
4. According to the sermon, what does Psalm 34:18 say about God’s attitude toward those who are brokenhearted or crushed in spirit? ([01:07:28])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Elijah chose to leave his servant and go into the wilderness alone? What does this reveal about how anxiety and discouragement can affect our relationships and sense of community? ([01:00:53])
2. The sermon says, “God addresses the physical before the spiritual.” Why might it be important for God to care for Elijah’s physical needs before speaking to his spiritual condition? ([01:16:11])
3. The passage says God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the gentle whisper. What might this teach us about how God often communicates with us during times of chaos or pain? ([01:20:11])
4. God didn’t just comfort Elijah—He gave him a new assignment and purpose. What does this suggest about God’s desire for us when we feel worn out or hopeless? ([01:26:44])

Application Questions

1. When you feel anxious, discouraged, or overwhelmed, do you tend to withdraw from others like Elijah did? What are some warning signs that you might be isolating yourself? ([01:03:24])
2. The sermon says, “Isolation is the incubator of anxiety.” What practical steps can you take to stay connected to community, even when you feel like hiding? ([01:05:18])
3. God cared for Elijah’s physical needs before anything else. Are there areas in your life where you need to give yourself permission to rest, eat well, or take care of your body? What would it look like to honor those needs this week? ([01:16:11])
4. The sermon talked about God’s voice being a gentle whisper, not a shout. What are some ways you can quiet the noise in your life to better hear God’s voice? Is there a specific time or place you could set aside for this? ([01:20:11])
5. God didn’t just bring Elijah out of the cave to comfort him—He gave him a new purpose. Is there an area in your life where you feel “stuck in the cave”? What might it look like for God to call you out and give you new purpose? ([01:26:44])
6. The sermon said, “Don’t mistake dormancy for death—God is always working beneath the surface.” Can you think of a time when God was working in your life even when you couldn’t see it? How does this encourage you in your current season? ([01:28:58])
7. The pastor led the church in a prayer to release exhaustion, stress, and anxiety, and to receive God’s grace and peace. Is there something specific you need to release to God today? What would it look like to open your hands and receive His peace right now? ([01:35:19])