Dealing with acute times of depression

I Kings 19:3-4 (NIV)

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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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”.

We all experience depression at times, “feeling the blues” is a fact of life.  For most people, it doesn’t last, but if it does (weeks of feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, plus cannot sleep or function normally), then depression become a serious medical illness that must be treated.  The Bible tells of several people who suffered depression---Elijah (I Kings 19), Moses (Num 11:11-15), David (II Sam 12:1-17), Jonah (Jonah 4), Paul (II Cor 4:8-9), and even Jesus Himself (Matt 26:37-38).  While these instances were not signs of major depression, they were experiences of depression that we all might go through.  So when you are depressed, remember that people of the greatest stature in God’s creation also experienced depression.  We all fail sometimes, we all feel inadequate sometimes, we all get disappointed sometimes and depression follows.  How might the story of Elijah’s depression help you the next time you feel depressed (and perhaps you are depressed right now)?  

       

Elijah was a major prophet of God and was so unique that he was one of two people recorded in the Bible who never died physically; he was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot (II Kings 2:1-12).  Elijah was so revered by the Jews because in Malachi 4:5-6, he was to be sent by God as a messenger of the coming Messiah.  John the Baptist was asked if he was Elijah and when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain in Matthew 17:1-4, Moses and Elijah was there with Him along with His disciples Peter, James and John.  So Elijah was as close to God as anyone, and yet in this passage in I Kings, it is clear that he became so depressed with his life that he prayed that he would die. 

Have you ever been in a state of mind like Elijah?  Bluntly, haven’t you wished that you would die and escape your life of misery and heartache?  Haven’t you ever felt isolated, haven’t you ever withdrawn, haven’t you ever felt sorry for yourself, haven’t you ever felt worthless?  Indeed, you can identify with Elijah, can’t you? You’ve been there.

The reasons for Elijah’s depression are some of the same reasons why you get depressed from time to time in your life---lack of adequate rest (I Kings 19:3-4), lack of proper diet (I Kings 19:6-7), excessive stress (I Kings 19:1-4), personal expectation of others or God that are not realized (I Kings 19:10-14), frustration at God and others (I Kings 19:10,14), fear (I Kings 19:3), and loneliness (I Kings 19:4,10).  Indeed haven’t you ever felt depressed after accomplishing something significant in your life?  Elijah was depressed after his great triumph over the priests of Baal described in I Kings 18.  After a “mountain-top experience” almost always comes a valley of depression…….. that’s a work of Satan.    

What helped Elijah get over his depression?  Well, first and foremost, he got some rest.  I know that when I am weary I think my worst thoughts.  I have taught myself not to take these depressing thoughts seriously as I know that after a good night’s rest these same depressing thoughts will have subsided.  Now, if you are very well rested and still have seriously depressing thoughts, you need help.

Note also starting in I Kings 19:5 that God via His angel starting taking steps to help Elijah.  He took care of his physical needs (making sure that Elijah ate), then his emotional needs (the reason for God asking “What are you doing here, Elijah?”).  God revealed Himself to Elijah in order for Elijah to transfer preoccupation with himself to focus on God.  Indeed, I have personally learned that one of the best ways to stop feeling depressed is to stop focusing on myself and start focusing on God, especially when I can serve others rather than myself.

Depression is real in life, but the story of Elijah helps you understand that God will help you out of your depression if and when you are open to His presence and using His Word to encourage you.  There is a purpose in everything, even depression.  Napoleon Hill wrote: “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”         

If you have never heard or listened to this song by Barry Manilow, I think that his words and the beautiful melody of the song could help you face and get through your depression. 

We dreamers have our ways of facing rainy days and somehow we survive
We keep the feelings warm, protect them from the storm, until our time arrives
Then one day the sun appears and we come shining through those lonely years

I made it through the rain, I kept my world protected.  I made it through the rain, I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain and found myself respected.  By the others who got rained on too, and made it through

When friends are hard to find and life seems so unkind, sometimes you feel so afraid
Just aim beyond the clouds and rise above the crowds and start your own parade
'Cause when I chased my fears away that's when I knew that I could finally say

I made it through the rain, I kept my world protected.  I made it through the rain, I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain and found myself respected.  By the others who got rained on too, and made it through. 

I made it through.