“…And behold an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.'” ….1 Kings 19:5
The story of Elijah is very interesting. Although we don’t know much about him, we know he’s a prophet, a faithful man of God. His name means “My God is LORD”. I picture Elijah as a rugged man, somewhat like John the Baptist—a caring soul but with a tone of sarcasm. As I read about him in 1 Kings 17 until 2 Kings 2, I felt his emotions went up and down. Faithfully obedient to God but somewhat tired. Elijah had a lot to deal with as Baalism was acute, and trying to abolish it must have carried a heavy load of responsibility. I felt somewhat sad for him when I read in 1 Kings 18:22 where he said, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD…”. A tone of loneliness? I sensed he was fearless yet somewhat afraid. He was scared of Jezebel. Who wouldn’t be? He must have felt defeated and unworthy of being a servant of God after he slaughtered the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). He asked God to take his life. He felt no better than his fathers (1 Kings 19). This mighty prophet gained so much victory but lost courage because he became depressed.
His story left me thinking of the struggle of depression. The turmoils of life that seem to bring so many into a wave of emotions. Sadly, today, we hear about so many. It can be triggered by a physical issue, work or family life, the loss of a loved one or even reasons unknown. I read that depression is defined as a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. There may be a deep sense of being discouraged, without purpose, unworthy, empty, lost, with a heightened feeling of great sadness. Some people may cry but don’t find relief. You could be surrounded by many who love you, but you still feel alone. Others may feel like a great weight is holding them down and stopping them from doing the daily activities they once loved. Life may be wonderful, but melancholy invades. You may feel like you are running at a low speed, like a battery that is beginning to fade. It seems to be a very complex ailment. It’s not a tangible ailment that can be removed, such as malfunctioning tonsils or appendixes. Some are depressed for a very short period, and others, once it triggers, struggle to recover.
How depression is handled can vary. Some may seclude themselves for fear of it being noticed. Others may act differently, trying to mask their depression. Some may suffer physical harm. There are those, like myself, who turned to substance abuse to ease the pain and block out the realities of life. For those who have never had it, and even those who have suffered through depression, it can be difficult to understand. Even though I suffered myself, I can’t say I truly know the feelings of others. We are all different physically, emotionally and spiritually. I think of how we are all made in the image of God, but like each beautifully crafted snowflake, we are different in design, and we go through our struggles of sadness and depression differently. Oswald Chamber (My Utmost for His Highest) says, “If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation.” We need to let God into our emotional and mental turmoils in the same way we let him into our physical ailments. I am so thankful He knows the depth of our problems.
My years of excessive drinking to try to block out life led to a jail cell. But in that lonely time, God stepped in. In June 2005, on what I thought was the worst day of my life, He gave me a Daniel 3 & 6 moment as He shut the mouths of the lies speaking into me and on that day, I stepped out unscathed without even a desire to take another drink. I didn’t know what had happened. I just knew something in me changed. For ten years, I felt calm and clear in my mind, even in struggles. I saw it as the “rest of God.” He did what needed to be done for me to move forward. As God gave Elijah rest before appearing to him with further direction (1 Kings 19), in 2015, God revealed what He had done all my life. After spending alone time with Him, He gave me direction and sent me to LifeCentre. God gave me a desire to learn and allow others of faith to help me as I fell in love with Him and His Word. He didn’t say ‘jump in’. He led me step by step, telling me not to fear (Isaiah 41:10), that He would instruct me, teach me and counsel me (Psalm 32:8) and told me how much He loved me and He always has (Jeremiah 31:3).
Depression is real, and help is vital for healing. As you seek answers, never forget our God, who gives rest and will refresh you as You heal. Seek those you trust to help, as they are appointed by Him for a reason. And trust His Word. It speaks clearly of who You are and how much you mean to Him. Pray, speak to our Father. He sees and hears you. You’re not alone. Let God step in.
Father God, we pray in Jesus’ name against the lies being spoken into the minds and hearts of those battling depression. In times of trials, when they don’t know what to think or feel, lead them to the Rock that is higher. Reveal the truth of who they are and Your love. Bring others appointed by You to help them. Amen
