How the Lord Helped Elijah Overcome Depression
May 5, 2024
I Kings 19:1-21
Chuck Swindoll tells the following story. I received a phone call which led me to a tiny and dirty garage apartment. I was met at the screen door by a man with a twelve-gauge shotgun. He invited me in. We sat for over an hour at a tiny kitchen table. He poured out a heartbreaking story. He had just been released from the hospital, recovering from back surgery. He was alone, having lost contact with his wife and his son. His marriage failed years before. On the wall were pictures of his son at various stages of growth. There was a picture of when he was a baby, a kindergartener, a little leaguer, a young teen, and a high school graduate. The man’s entire focus centered upon his family, and he no longer was able to enjoy them. He was in a prison of despondency and depression. Sadly, my attempts to help him see beyond the walls of his anguish proved futile. In less than a week, he shot himself to death in his car. To him, life was no longer worth the fight.
Deep discouragement or depression is now being considered the number one illness in America. Depression affects young and old, rich, and poor, Christian and non-Christian. There are simply times when fear, burnout, unfulfilled expectations, or some trial prompts you to run, to become depressed and/or a desire to give up. Today, I want to look how the Lord ministers to a depressed servant of God. There are several important principles in this story on how the Lord can help the burned out, the hopeless, depressed person.
In I Kings chapter 18, we learn Elijah had instructed Ahab to summon all Israel to Mount Carmel. There on the mountain, Elijah rebuked the Israelites for fluctuating between God and Baal. So, he proposed a contest which would settle the question of who the true God was. The prophets of Baal would prepare their sacrifice, and Elijah his. If the prophets of Baal could produce fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, then Baal must be God. But if Elijah could do so, then Yahweh, the God of Israel, must be the true God. Let Israel then follow the God who could produce fire from heaven. Despite their efforts, the prophets of Baal failed. Then Elijah tells them to pour more water on the offering and the wood. Then Elijah prayed and fire from the Lord consumed the offering. The people proclaimed that the Lord is God, and at Elijah’s command, they put the 450 prophets of Baal to death.
After the Lord showed his power, revival was happening!!! Elijah prays for rain. At the end of I Kings 18, Since there was a drought, Elijah prayed, and the rain was coming. Then he told King Ahab to go back to Jezreel. Then Scripture says at the end of chapter 18, The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Elijah experienced God’s power as he ran ahead of Ahab. He was eager to get to Jezreel and to continue the “revival” that had started on Mount Carmel.
Verse 1, Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
It seems like Ahab told Elijah, “Why don’t you wait out here for a moment? I think it would be best if I broke the news to Jezebel privately.”
In verse 2, we get Jezebel’s reaction. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.
The news fell on deaf ears with Jezebel. She was a very wicked and vicious woman. She was the daughter of the King of Sidon who had implemented the worship of Baal in Israel, the northern kingdom.
Several years ago, I was given a book entitled Jezebel. One of the comments was “no one names their daughter Jezebel.” As far as I know it is true.
Instead of Ahab or Jezebel telling Elijah, Jezebel sends one of her servants. He warns Elijah that he is a dead man within 24 hours.
Verse 3, Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When faced with the threat of Jezebel, he realized that there was no immediate revival. Most likely Elijah expected that God would continue to manifest Himself in a spectacular way. And when Jezebel sent the messenger to him with her threats, Elijah was crushed and frightened. He became fearful. He ran. Elijah reacted in fear rather than faith.
In chapter 17-18, the writer records how “the word of the Lord came to Elijah,” then “he went” (17:2, 5, 8, 10, 18:1-2). But now, there is no word from the Lord, and Elijah departs on his own. He drifted from depending on God’s Word. We face the same temptation. Will we order our lives by God’s word or by our own desires or emotions.
Elijah also lost his vision of the greatness of God. He looked at his circumstances from a human point of view without considering the divine perspective. As a result, fear gripped him. He took his eyes off the greatness of God and allowed fear and panic to grip his life. As a result, he fled. We may not have a lady like Jezebel who wants to kill us. However, life is full of grief and discouragement.
Now let me note this. Elijah experienced many of the classic symptoms of depression.
Fear--Verse 3
Wanting to be alone—Verse 3 When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there.
Feeling hopeless or helpless, a give up attitude verse 4, “I had enough.”
Suicidal tendencies—verse 4 He prayed that he might die, take my life Lord.
He felt guilty. He felt worthless. Verse 4 “I am no better than my ancestors.”
Verse 5 indicates that he was neglecting his own personal needs. He was not eating well. He was excessively tired. Of course this is a pretty frequent problem for people with depression—failing to eat or drink or shower or get dressed.
Verse 10 indicates that he had feelings of rejection, anger, and loneliness.
His thinking was negative, negative, negative! Verses 10, 14, “I am the only one left and now they’re trying to kill me too.”
Since he was not thinking clearly, his words, his life, are filled with defeat and despair. He lost his desire to live. He had lost hope. He had had enough. He had given up. He was tired of life and wanted out.
Verse 5a, Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Elijah lies down hoping never to awaken again in this world.
Verses 5b, 6, All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water.
Please note, the angel does not say get up and pray. He does not say get up and read the word. He does not say get up and serve the Lord. The angel tells Elijah to get something to eat. Verse 6b, So, he got up and ate and drank. Then he lay down again.
Principle 1: If you are going to overcome burn out, depression, a hopeless, give up attitude, then you need to cooperate with the Lord to take care of your physical needs.
Poor eating habits, chemical imbalances or other physical problems can prompt discouragement. For example, type 2 diabetes and depression are intricately linked. It is a war for these people. So, it is important to take care of yourself. You need to eat and eat healthily. Sometimes a good night’s sleep does wonders for our attitude. Oswald Sanders said, “Going to bed early and a change of diet will settle many a case of depression.” Sometimes you need to see the doctor. Medication or other treatment can be extremely helpful. Sometimes, you need to go to rehab to take care of the physical issues of drinking or drugs.
The point is that we often cannot get to the deep emotional/spiritual issues until you deal with the basic physical issues like hunger, physical exhaustion, drugs.
The Lord provided rest along with food and water. Often this is the first step in getting better.
God’s restoration of Elijah begins with rest and food for the body, the mind, and the soul. But there is more to come.
Verse 7, The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. The angel tells Elijah that he will be going on a journey. I can hear Elijah reply, “Journey, what journey?”
Verse 8, So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
It is about 265 miles from Beersheba to Mount Sinai. This would have required seven or eight days. He was simply wandering around for 40 days much like the children of Israel had done for forty years, or Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness.
Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, would have been a special holy place as it was where the Lord gave Moses the law. Why did he go to Horeb? Because Mount Sinai was the place you went when you know you need to meet God.
There is value in going back to meaningful physical locations in your life, places where God worked in the past. I personally think of Green Lake Conference Center in Wisconsin or a camp in Lake Geneva. Now, the location is not as important as simply meeting with the Lord. It might be sitting at a desk/table, taking a walk, or going to the park.
Principle 2: Take time to go and meet with the Lord!
Verse 9, There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
What a soul-searching question!! Did he understand why he was there? Did he understand his problem? Did he understand it was because of his faulty thinking and his wrong focus? Did he understand that he needed help to overcome his burn-out, his depression, his hopeless, give up attitude?
This question was not for God’s benefit, but for Elijah’s. The Lord is asking him in a way, “You were my man at Mt. Carmel. What are you doing here?” Elijah, I already called you. I empowered you. So, what is bugging you? What is on your chest? What are you doing here?”
Elijah then poured out his feelings. Verse 10, He replied, I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.
He expresses his anger, his loneliness, his worry. He let off steam. The Lord’s question opened the door for Elijah to express his pent-up emotions. He got honest with himself and with God. Sometimes, we do not want to be honest with what is bugging us.
There are times when we simply need to cry out to the Lord and express our feelings. For instance, the writer of Psalm 88:13-18 states, But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. 14 Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me? 15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. 16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. 17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. 18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend.
The writer of Psalm 42 experienced a crushed, broken spirit. Verse 5, Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Then he says to himself, Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior, and my God.
Principle 3: Tell the Lord your inner pain. Cry out to him for help!
When you are anxious, let the Lord hear your inner emotions. So, please do not try to hold in your inner pain. Do not repress or suppress your negative emotions. Cry out to the Lord.
Verses 11, 12, The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
In a sense, God put on a fireworks show. God showed his tremendous power through the wind, an earthquake and then fire. The interesting thing is it says that God was not speaking to Elijah in any of those. What really got Elijah’s attention was the still small voice, the gentle whisper. Please note that Elijah does not go out and stand on the mountain until after he hears the gentle whisper as verse 13 states, When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Elijah simply was too depressed to get up. A typical symptom of depressed people is not wanting to get out of bed.
The fact of the matter is that God usually speaks to us in a gentle whisper. He might speak in some dramatic physical way, but it is not the norm.
Now, we might have told Elijah to snap out of it. “Come on! Get a grip!” Yet, Almighty God meets him at the point of his deep despair. He just says, “Son, come with me. Get up. That is right. Get up. Get out of your cave. Come on, Elijah. The Lord needed for Elijah to realize that He was Almighty God.
Principle 4: Know the Lord God is Almighty! Respond to His word!
This is similar to what the Lord did with Job. Job 38:1-5 states, Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? Job needed to hear the Lord and know the Lord is Almighty! He needed a bigger God!
If you are discouraged, listen for that small voice, the gentle whisper of God. Dust off your Bible, find a delightful place, sit down, and read. Get alone with God and let Him speak to you!
A faith building activity is when a person is blindfolded and must listen how to walk through an obstacle course. The same is true for us. We walk by faith, not by sight, as we listen to the Lord’s instructions on how to walk-through life.
After Elijah goes and stands at the mouth of the cave, the end of verse 13 states, Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” It was the same question God asked him earlier.
Now we come to the saddest portion of our passage. For the second time, Elijah gives the same answer as he gave in verse 10.
Verse 14, He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Despite God’s merciful provisions for Elijah and a demonstration of his power, Elijah still did not understand. Elijah again shared how he felt. He expressed his discouragement.
How slow we are to learn and how deep seated our feelings of pain, rejection and hurt become established. It is humankind’s sinful way to deal with pain and disappointment. When we are depressed, we are often ingenious at making up excuses for our actions.
Then, in verses 15-18, the Lord speaks to Elijah giving him a new purpose and a new perspective. Elijah is to retrace his steps and go to the Desert of Damascus. He was to anoint Hazael king over Aram. Anoint Jehu king over Israel and anoint Elisha as his successor. These men will deal with the false Baal teachers. The Lord also reassures Elijah that there were still 7000 men in Israel who had not bowed to Baal.
What the Lord said is exactly what Elijah needed to hear. He stopped looking at self and started looking at how the Lord was working! The Lord gave Elijah a vision, a purpose, a new job. So, the Lord, more or less said, “I am not through with you! I have work for you to do!”
He also reassured him that the ones he anointed would deal with the false Baal teachers! He also told Elijah that he was not the only one left. Elisha was going to replace him and there were still 7000 faithful men.
God’s word brought healing, a new perspective as the Baal promoters and teachers would be dealt with. His concern that he was the only one left was corrected. His feeling that the Lord really did not care about His people was not true. Elijah had hope for the future. He knew the Lord would keep his promises and He was still in control! Verse 19a indicates that he did what the Lord instructed as he went from there and found Elisha.
Principle 5: As you begin or renew listening to God’s word, you will experience healing, put on a new perspective, a new purpose. You will have hope! Then act on what the Lord instructs you to do!
As you personally meet with the Lord praying and taking to heart His word, the Lord will begin to bring healing to your life. You will have a new perspective, a new purpose.
If you come to church, hopefully the music, the prayer, or God’s word will speak to you. Interesting note--in 1999 Duke University conducted a study of nearly 4000 older adults. One of their conclusions: “Attendance at a house of worship is related to lower rates of depression and anxiety. When people get depressed, they tend to run from God. We need to hear his voice and spend some time with Him. It is a powerful anti-depressant.”
As I go on vacation in 18 days, I look forward to seeking the Lord’s direction, helping me recalibrate.
In verses 19-21, we learn Elijah went and found Elisha. Elisha was plowing with 12 oxen indicating that he came from a wealthy family. Elijah threw his cloak around him symbolizing the transference of prophetic power. Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. But then, Elisha requests, Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you. Elijah permits him to do so as he says, “Go back,” but also adds, “What have I done to you?” Elisha goes back, throws a party as he tells everyone he is following God’s will. He was excited about the opportunity, and he faithfully went to serve Elijah.
What a blessing it must have been for Elijah to have Elisha assisting him. This young apprentice must have given Elijah fresh strength. There is something about young people that bring energy and a renewed commitment to serve the Lord.
Now as I was studying this passage, I was wondering did Elijah ever get what the Lord meant by the question, What are you doing here, Elijah? It was not until I pondered Elijah’s question to Elisha that I concluded that he did. Elijah asks, “What have I done to you?” In a way, it was a question just like the Lord had asked. For his question was telling Elisha, keep in mind the solemn ceremony I have just performed on you. It is not I, but God, who calls you. Do not allow any earthly affection, any issues, to detain you from obeying His call. If Elisha had wavered, Elijah probably would have gone to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elisha. Elijah had learned from his experience, and he was teaching it to his apprentice.
Principle 6: Have others help you. Do not try to do it on your own! Remember, we are stronger together!
Let me note this. We need other people. God never intended you to fly through life solo. You are not alone. God has created others who are also gifted and competent. Maybe you don’t see others around you who are also building God’s Kingdom, but they are out there. Trust in Him.
Let me close with this. The first person to invent the wheel only discovered what the Lord had already designed, for the Lord created things in circles. The stars and planets are round, the move in orbital circuits, and life, as a result moves in cycles. Every one-hundred years, we have a new century; every 365 days, we have a new year; every 24 hours we have a new day; every 60 minutes we have a new hour. God created the potential for new beginnings into the very design of our universe. He also created new beginnings through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. One can become a new creation in Him! We all need new beginnings. Adam and Eve, after they at the forbidden fruit; Moses after he killed the Egyptian; David after his committed adultery; Elijah after an emotional breakdown in the desert, the disciples after Good Friday. And you….
Some of you this morning might be struggling with this problem of depression, hopelessness. I have good news for you. Jesus Christ is ready to help you overcome your depression. He is the Lighthouse! He will help you. He is with you! You are not alone! God cares about you. There are other people who care about you. God says, “There is hope.” So will you apply these principles?
