Go back the way you came

Elijah came to a Dead End

Drained and hopeless

“Then the LORD told him,

Go back the way you came”

Being lost can be horrible.

It seems every direction adds

more confusion and frustration.

When we get lost in our soul or

mind, unpleasant thoughts seem

to come from every direction.

Doubt and fear can overwhelm

like a dam breaking in a valley.

When Elijah found himself lost in the

thoughts of fear and doubt, God said to him…

"What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah vented to God and God said…   

"Go back the way you came.”

The mighty King David, the

apple of God’s eye, became lost.

In his soul, he had lost hope.

David reboots by going back in his mind

to the joyful times he had with God.

His experiences with the saints

and the times of thanksgiving.

He turns his self-talk around and questioned his soul.

As if to say…“Where are you?”

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Then he commands his thoughts, he captured

all the running thoughts and said...

“Put your hope in God.”

David as he goes back in his mind to better

days with God, rebooted with praise and song.

Yes, a merry heart does good like a medicine.

To reboot your faith Hebrew 11:6 says…

“Believe God is.”

Go back to the beginning… He is the creator

of your hands and all of nature around you.

He is in love with you and showed

it with the sacrifice of His Son.

He promised…  

“Be relaxed with what you have.

Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down,

never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what.”

“Who or what can get to me?”

Hebrews 13:5-6 MSG

Scripture Reading

1 Kings 19:13-15 NLT

And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty.

But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you,

torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets.

I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came,

Psalm 42 NIV

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night,

while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God,

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon — from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8 By day the LORD directs his love,

at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"

10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

What are you doing there?

What storms are going on in your mind?

What thoughts keep you at a distance?

Listen there is a whisper

God is asking

“What are you doing there?”

Ever been asked that question?

There are times in life we get out of place.

We are in the wrong location.

That is the question God asked Elijah.

This man of God who controlled

his environment has lost control.

He has run from Jezebel in fear and drain.

Crying out to God to die, he fell asleep and

after a needed rest, God gave him two meals

and he seems to be getting back on his feet.

But 40 days later he was in a cave

and his depression was back.

You have to wonder where Elijah was at mentally.

He said…“I have zealously served the

Lord God Almighty. But..." 1 Kings 19:14

 Others didn’t… those who did were killed…

I am the only one left.

Did I waste my life, is Jezebel stronger than God?

Elijah was sitting in a cave and probably had a great view.

I am sure Elijah expected God to have done

something powerful to change the events in his life.

Power does come in the form of wind, and

earthquake, and a fire that brings great destruction.

Now that sounds like my God.

But God is not in the power and strength of those things.

After all those powerful destructive things around him ceased;

Then came a gentle whisper.

Elijah covered his face and went out

and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then the voice said to him, “What are you doing here?”

Don’t let your unfulfilled expectations put

you in a place God never intended you to be in.

Don’t lose hope when the powers of

darkness seem greater than the power of God.

Don’t lose hope when God does not bring

down fire from heaven today like He did yesterday.

Recognize God cares not only where you live

physically but where you are living in your mind.

When all the storms of hopelessness

are blowing through your mind…

Remember God speaks in a whisper;

So quiet your soul so you can hear Him.

Scripture Reading

1 Kings 19:9-14 NLT

But the LORD said to him,

"What are you doing here, Elijah?"

10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously

served the LORD God Almighty.

But the people of Israel have

broken their covenant with you,

torn down your altars, and killed

every one of your prophets.

I alone am left, and now they

are trying to kill me, too."

11 "Go out and stand before me on

the mountain," the LORD told him.

And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by,

and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.

It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were

torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake,

but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12 And after the earthquake there was a fire,

but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire there was

the sound of a gentle whisper.

13 When Elijah heard it,

he wrapped his face in his cloak and went

out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, "What

are you doing here, Elijah?"

14 He replied again, "I have zealously

served the LORD God Almighty.

But the people of Israel have

broken their covenant with you,

torn down your altars, and killed

every one of your prophets.

I alone am left, and now they

are trying to kill me, too."