Finding God in Life's Highs and Lows
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the life of the prophet Elijah, focusing on the highs and lows he experienced and how they mirror our own lives. Elijah's story, particularly from 1 Kings 18 and 19, serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly we can transition from moments of triumph to periods of despair. Elijah's mountaintop experience on Mount Carmel, where he called down fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of Baal, was followed by a deep valley of fear and isolation when Queen Jezebel threatened his life. This rollercoaster of emotions is something we all face, and it’s crucial to understand how God meets us in both our highs and lows.
Elijah's response to his low point—fleeing, isolating himself, and even wishing for death—reflects our own tendencies to withdraw and lose hope when faced with adversity. However, God’s response to Elijah is profoundly instructive. Instead of chastising him, God provides for Elijah’s physical needs, allowing him to rest and eat, and then gives him a new purpose by sending him on a journey to Mount Sinai. This journey was not just about reaching a destination but about transforming Elijah’s heart and renewing his spirit.
The key lesson here is that God cares deeply for us, especially in our lowest moments. He listens to our cries, comforts us, and provides what we need to regain our strength and purpose. Importantly, Elijah’s story teaches us to seek God’s whisper in our lives—the gentle, quiet voice of God that guides us through His Word, through the fellowship of believers, and through the Holy Spirit. By learning to live from whisper to whisper, we can find balance and stability, minimizing the emotional rollercoaster of life.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Meets Us in Our Highs and Lows: Elijah’s story shows that after our greatest highs, we can experience our deepest lows. God is present in both, providing comfort and guidance. He doesn’t abandon us in our despair but meets us with compassion and provision. [29:53]
2. Isolation and Fear Are Common Responses: Like Elijah, we often isolate ourselves and succumb to fear when we are down. This isolation can exacerbate our feelings of despair. Recognizing this pattern can help us seek community and support instead of withdrawing. [31:20]
3. God Provides for Our Physical and Emotional Needs: In Elijah’s lowest moment, God provided food, rest, and a renewed purpose. This teaches us that taking care of our physical needs and finding new purpose can help us recover from emotional lows. [40:24]
4. The Importance of God’s Whisper: Elijah needed to learn to hear God’s whisper, not just His powerful manifestations. Living from whisper to whisper—hearing God through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of believers—helps us maintain emotional balance. [50:26]
5. God Cares Deeply for Us: The overarching message is that God cares for us deeply, especially in our darkest moments. He listens, comforts, and provides, ensuring we are not left in our despair. This care is a constant, regardless of our emotional state. [47:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[16:30] - Summer Challenge: Visit Another Campus
[17:55] - Rollercoaster of Life
[20:20] - Elijah’s Up Moment
[24:23] - Elijah’s Victory on Mount Carmel
[29:12] - Elijah’s Down Moment
[32:01] - Isolation and Despair
[39:55] - God’s Response to Elijah
[44:23] - Elijah’s Journey to Mount Sinai
[47:00] - God’s Care and Whisper
[52:07] - Living Whisper to Whisper
[54:04] - Prayer and Conclusion
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 18:36-39 (Elijah's victory on Mount Carmel)
2. 1 Kings 19:1-9 (Elijah's despair and God's provision)
#### Observation Questions
1. What significant event took place on Mount Carmel involving Elijah and the prophets of Baal? ([27:00])
2. How did Elijah react when Queen Jezebel threatened his life after his victory on Mount Carmel? ([29:53])
3. What were the specific ways God provided for Elijah during his low point in the wilderness? ([39:55])
4. What did Elijah experience on Mount Sinai that helped him understand God's presence in a new way? ([48:42])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Elijah, after experiencing such a powerful victory, fell into such deep despair? ([29:53])
2. How does God's response to Elijah's despair reflect His character and care for us in our own low moments? ([39:55])
3. What is the significance of God speaking to Elijah in a gentle whisper rather than through powerful manifestations? ([50:26])
4. How can recognizing the pattern of isolation and fear in Elijah's story help us in our own struggles with despair? ([31:20])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant high followed by a low. How did you see God’s presence in both moments? ([29:53])
2. When you face fear and isolation, what practical steps can you take to seek community and support rather than withdrawing? ([31:20])
3. How can you ensure that you are taking care of your physical and emotional needs during times of stress or despair? ([39:55])
4. What are some ways you can become more attuned to hearing God's whisper in your daily life? ([50:26])
5. Think of a recent low point in your life. How did you see God providing for you, and how can you share that experience to encourage others? ([47:39])
6. How can you cultivate a habit of living "whisper to whisper" to maintain emotional balance and stability? ([50:26])
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to seek God's whisper for guidance. What steps will you take this week to listen for His voice? ([50:26])
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Presence in Every Season
In the life of Elijah, we see a vivid portrayal of the highs and lows that we all experience. Elijah’s triumph on Mount Carmel, where he called down fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of Baal, was a moment of great victory. However, this was quickly followed by a period of deep despair when Queen Jezebel threatened his life. This stark contrast reminds us that after our greatest highs, we can experience our deepest lows. Yet, God is present in both, providing comfort and guidance. He doesn’t abandon us in our despair but meets us with compassion and provision. [29:53]
1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "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. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."
Reflection: Think about a recent high and low in your life. How did you see God’s presence in both situations? How can you seek His presence more intentionally in your current season?
Day 2: Recognizing and Overcoming Isolation
Elijah’s response to his low point—fleeing, isolating himself, and even wishing for death—reflects our own tendencies to withdraw and lose hope when faced with adversity. Isolation and fear are common responses to difficult situations, and they can exacerbate our feelings of despair. Recognizing this pattern can help us seek community and support instead of withdrawing. By understanding that we are not alone in our struggles, we can find strength and encouragement in the fellowship of believers. [31:20]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: When you feel the urge to isolate yourself, who can you reach out to for support and encouragement? How can you be a source of support for someone else who might be struggling?
Day 3: God’s Provision in Our Weakness
In Elijah’s lowest moment, God provided food, rest, and a renewed purpose. This teaches us that taking care of our physical needs and finding new purpose can help us recover from emotional lows. God’s response to Elijah was not one of chastisement but of care and provision. He understands our human frailty and meets us where we are, providing what we need to regain our strength and purpose. This is a powerful reminder that God is attentive to both our physical and emotional needs. [40:24]
Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV): "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Reflection: What physical or emotional needs do you have right now that you can bring before God? How can you allow Him to provide for you in these areas?
Day 4: Hearing God’s Whisper
Elijah needed to learn to hear God’s whisper, not just His powerful manifestations. Living from whisper to whisper—hearing God through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of believers—helps us maintain emotional balance. In a world full of noise and distractions, it is crucial to cultivate the ability to hear God’s gentle, quiet voice. This whisper guides us, comforts us, and provides the direction we need to navigate life’s challenges. [50:26]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily life to hear God’s whisper? What practices can you incorporate to become more attuned to His voice?
Day 5: God’s Unfailing Care
The overarching message of Elijah’s story is that God cares for us deeply, especially in our darkest moments. He listens, comforts, and provides, ensuring we are not left in our despair. This care is a constant, regardless of our emotional state. Understanding and embracing this truth can transform how we approach our struggles and challenges. It reminds us that we are never alone and that God’s love and care are unwavering. [47:39]
Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God’s care in a difficult situation. How can this memory encourage you in your current struggles? How can you share this truth with someone who needs to hear it today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Life is a lot like a rollercoaster. There are ups and there are downs. There are highs and there are lows. There are moments when you are going fast and there are many moments when you are going slow. There, there are moments when you feel like it's out of control and you're flying out of your seat. And there's moments when your stomach is in your throat and you don't know exactly what tomorrow is going to hold." [20:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It's amazing to me how after some of your greatest highs, you can have some of your greatest lows. And some of those things can be for very serious reasons and others of them can be for frivolous things. But after your greatest high, your greatest low comes." [33:06](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The enemy loves to do one thing. He loves to steal joy. You do realize this. You have an enemy who loves to steal your joy, and that when you realize that, you're going to be able to do something else. No matter what they are, he doesn't want you there. He wants to pull you back down, not just back down to average. He wants to pull you down into the deepest, darkest valley. He loves to play with your emotions." [38:29](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God cares. He cares about your move from your highest moment to your lowest moment. God cares. God cares about the depression that's overwhelming you right now. God cares about the anxiety. God loves you in the midst of that. God loves you in your lack of faith right now." [47:39](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What we have to learn how to do is be people that live from whisper to whisper. Because when you live whisper to whisper, then you minimize, you minimize the emotional rollercoaster called life. It's not that it's all gonna go away and every day's gonna be perfect, but when you live whisper to whisper from God, you minimize the rollercoaster of emotion from life." [50:26](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Notice what happens to this great prophet. Powerful, mighty prophet of God who has seen God do things that you and me have never seen. He is afraid and he flees for his life. Not only does he do that, when he should trust in the one true living God, the powerful God who called down fire from heaven. But not only does he do that, but then he ditches his servant and he gets isolated. He goes from this amazing high where he needs a team, where he needs people, to I feel so depressed, I don't even want to be around anybody. And so he leaves the very people he needs. Does this sound a lot like us?" [31:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God allowed Elijah to express his true feelings to him and God listened to him. But God came along and he didn't just listen to him, but he consoled him. God never crushed Elijah. Remember earlier when he was saying, like, God, just take my life. It's enough. I don't want to have any more to do with this. You don't find God coming back with the angel going, hey, Elijah, wake up, man. What's your problem, dude? You don't see God doing that. In fact, you see this. God's comforting him through an angel." [41:01](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God cared about Elijah so much that he even said, look man, you gotta eat. You need food. You need drink. Why? Physically you need nourishment. Then God allowed him to rest in between those two meals. I love this. For us, man, we're in our lowest of low. Sometimes it's just the simple things of getting something to eat and getting something to drink that's gonna nourish your physical body that's gonna help you process things the way you need to process them so you can see straight again." [42:19](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God didn't need Elijah to be on a mountain for any particular reason. It wasn't like God couldn't show Elijah what he wanted to show him right there underneath that single broom tree. But Elijah needed the mission. Guys, sometimes when we're in our lowest of lows, our darkest of darks, our deepest of deeps, it's that moment where you're like, okay, I need to get going. I need to get back to something. I need to be somewhere where there's some purpose and some meaning in my life." [44:02](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The beauty of God is that God wants to redirect your attention and send you on a new journey. But he's doing it to change your heart. It's not just to get you out of a state of depression. God's using it to change your heart, to get you focused back on, do you know who I am? Are you with me? Are you gonna go with me? Because I'm not gonna abandon you. Are you going to go with me?" [47:00](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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