Four Signs You’re in A Wilderness

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James 5:17-18

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Elijah is one of the most fascinating characters in the scriptures. He was an immensely powerful prophet, mightily used by God in the miraculous. He was a powerful preacher who passionately called God’s people out of idolatry and back to pure and undivided worship to the one True God. He prayed and stopped the rain for thirty-six months, then prayed again and the rain resumed. All of which makes these four simple words seem totally out of place… “a nature like ours.” This man seems to be superhuman, but he is just a man who surrendered himself into the hand of God.

No other place do we see Elijah’s “nature like us” than in the nineteenth chapter of 1 Kings. Go ahead and turn there.

The prophet has just challenged Ahab the king of Israel to a battle of the gods. Whoever’s god answered by fire would be the God of Israel. Elijah’s God won the war and sent fire from heaven! This infuriated Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife, and she vowed to have his head for it. Elijah fled in fear to hide in the wilderness.

Beware of the attack of the enemy following a great victory. Jezebel’s threats were no match for God! Yet, Elijah gave in and found himself in a wilderness.

Four signs you’re in a wilderness: 1 Kings 19

1. The wilderness is where we separate from much needed support. V.3

2. The wilderness is where we end up exhausted. V. 5

3. The wilderness is where we exaggerate our circumstances v. 4, 10

A. “I want to die.”

B. “I’m no better than my fathers” ( we compare and compete in the wilderness).

C. “I’m the only one” ( we get a victim mindset in the wilderness).

4. The wilderness is where we make excuses. V. 10

Two ways God restores us in the wilderness:

1. He cares for us while we’re there. Vs. 5-7 - Rest and Refuel

2. He calls us out of the wilderness. Vs. 11-18 - Nothing can pull us out of the past like a new present assignment! Relax, take a deep breath and God will restore you in His time.