Suffering: Depression, Like Elijah
When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me, if, by this time tomorrow, I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life…”
1 Kings 19:1-4 (NLT)
Bible heroes struggled with depression, and the Word shares their stories.* Why? Perhaps so we’ll openly share our own, bringing light to a plight often covered.
Because…
Stars called to greatness face great challenges, and battles of the soul are the biggest.
Stars for God must grow spiritual strength, and gain wisdom by studying their Boss.
Satan’s strategy is to take them down, and by any means, cover up their light…
So he distracts them with all kinds of fights, including the fight against depression, hoping they'll quit and surrender to him.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Remember the story of Elijah, when he won a tremendous victory– killing many hundreds of false prophets, following a “cook-off” competition! **
But the king and queen were far from happy and tried to chase him down… to murder him. As God would have it, His hero escaped. Nevertheless, he fell into depression and spoke of how much he wanted to die.
Therein, understand:
Depressive lows can follow lofty highs. If you've been hit by depression (I have), so have many (or most) high achievers. DON’T BE ASHAMED. You’re in good company!
Consider some steps to fight depression:
Don’t get down on yourself for what you feel.
Let go of the past. What matters is NOW.
Stay in the Bible, and read it aloud.
Pray alone, but also seek out small groups.
I believe God will give you ACTION STEPS!
Play uplifting music in the background.
If you don’t have a church, work to find one..
Outdoor activity resets your mind.
Speaking of “minds”, pray verses to guard yours.
Speaking of friends, hang with positive ones.
God says wise counsel helps, so seek it out.
If you’re in a depressing fight right now, I hope your “night” is short, but if it’s not… your joy, your win, and your peace ARE COMING!
‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5).
Hang in there, because Jesus hung for you. The least you can do is stay in the game. The most you can do is COMING QUICKLY.
‘For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry’ (Habakkuk 2:3).
Suffering: Depression, Like Elijah (Part 18)
* 7 Bible Characters Who Experienced Depression (With Lessons)
** Elijah's victory and subsequent depression: 1 Kings 18-19: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18-19&version=NKJV
** Reference article: 15. The Crisis of Elijah (1 Kings 19:4-14) | Bible.org
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!