Deflating Depression

1. Most if not all of us have dealt with or are dealing with depression. Touched on it last week with Grief.

2. Causes of Depression

• Grief and Loss

• Stress

• Health problems (poor nutrition, etc.)

• Drugs

3. Signs of Depression (You may need to seek professional counsel):

• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

• Pessimism, indifference

• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

• Unexplained aches and pains

• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

4. You are not alone – some of God’s greatest leaders had to deal with it.

Moses; Jeremiah (Lamentations 3.1-8); Jonah (Chapter 4); Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19

5. A major victory almost always leaves us weary and susceptible to spiritual exhaustion.

a. Peter’s insight at Caesarea Philippi and then adversarial comment – Matthew 16:18, 22

b. Elijah in 1 Kings 18

c. So what do we do to deal with it? 1 Kings 19:1-21

I. Basic Actions (19.1-8) [GriefShare suggestions for D.E.E.R.]

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

A. Drink

1. The Physical – Importance of Water – Plant Nanny App

2. Spiritual – Living Water – John 4.13-14

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

B. Eat

1. The Physical – Nutritional requirements

2. The Spiritual – Bread of Life (John 6.35/Bethlehem)

C. Exercise

1. The Physical (Happiness and Energy benefits as well as others)

2. The Spiritual – Prayer; Serving; Worshiping [James 1:27

D. Rest

1. The Physical – boosts immune system; improves memory; energy; creativity

2. The Spiritual – Giving of Sabbath; Matthew 11:28-30

II. Practical Actions (19:9-21)

A. Go to Our Source (19:9)

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1. Where else can we go? John 6:66-69

2. A familiar place to be with the LORD

B. Tell Your Story (Repeatedly if Necessary/Journal) (19:10-14)

10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”