Facing Fear Part 2
God’s Cure for Depression (Facing the fear of Depression)
1 Kings 19:1-14;18
Introduction
Last week we began a series titled “Facing Fear”, last week we learned about the fear of uncertainty, and we learned how to live certain in uncertain times, we learned that first of all we needed to expect times of uncertainty, because from scripture we were promised that those days would come. We also learned that we needed to trust Jesus in the midst of those uncertain days, and that they were only temporary, because as followers of Christ we are on our way to a much more secure home with no uncertainty.
Today we learn about another fear that plague so many in day to day life, and that fear is depression, today from scripture we will learn God’s cure for depression, and to do that we will take a look at a time in the life of the prophet Elijah.
We will pick up the events in Chapter 19 of 1st Kings, but before we read that portion, I need to fill you in on what took place prior to that point. Elijah had just finished experiencing one of the greatest displays of God’s power ever recorded in scripture.
Elijah ordered the 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah, they came together on Mount Carmel, which the false god worshipers were to set up an altar and place a bull on it, and then call upon the names of there gods to respond by fire, then Elijah would do the same, and Elijah said which ever God responds by fire then HE is GOD.
Continue the story.
Now as we come to chapter nine-teen, we see that Jezebel the wife of the evil King Ahab order the death of Elijah, so Elijah is afraid and runs, and as we read you will notice that he really slips into a serious time of depression and loneliness, if you have ever experienced anything like that you will pick up on that as we read this passage, but from this passage I want us to learn God’s cure for Depression, and learn how to face it head on.
Read Scriptures: 1 Kings 19:1-14,18
I. Depression often comes after dealing with trying circumstances.
Vs. 1-3 “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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." Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there”
Trying circumstances often is the open door for depression. Those trying circumstances might be the death of a loved one, it might be a serious illness that you are enduring, it might be a strenuous marriage, it might be dealing with serious family issues, it might be the loss of a job, whatever those trying circumstances are, it is often the open door for depression.
For Elijah it was the news that Jezebel was going to have him murdered, and I am sure if any of us received news that there was a hit out on us, that may be an open door for depression for our lives as well.
I remember in the days and weeks after burying my brother after he committed suicide, I remember really fighting a depression that wanted to take over my life, and the things that I did, is what God has outlined for us in this passage for his cure for depression.
II. Prayer is Vital during periods of Depression.
Vs. 4 “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”
When we have those periods of depression we have a tendency to want to close ourselves in and not speak to anyone, not even to God, at least in any meaningful prayer time.
God shows us in this passage that when we slip into these periods of depression talking to God about what we are going through is vital if we are going to make it though these rough times.
Notice Elijah’s prayer was a very honest one, but it was prayer none the less.
III. Honesty before God about your feelings is Vital during periods of Depression.
Vs. 4 “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”
In Elijah’s prayer he was very honest before God about what he was feeling. Honesty about what you are feeling is vital during times of depression. Definitely honesty before God in prayer, but also honest with someone you feel comfortable talking to.
Elijah was dealing with the fact that he wanted to die, we can infer that it was probably by his own hand, because if not he could have just waited for the hit man to find him.
Elijah didn’t keep anything inside, he let it all out before God, and that it what we should do as well.
IV. Maintaining healthy habits is Vital during periods of Depression.
Vs. 5-8 “Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 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." 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.”
God recognized that Elijah’s depression was not an imaginary problem. Elijah’s depression was real. It was tangible. You could have cut it with a knife. AND God did not say – “get a hold of yourself Elijah. This is a SINFUL attitude … where’s your faith man?”
In answer to Elijah’s prayer to die, God just lets him sleep. Then God’s angel feeds him and lets him sleep some more. Then God sends him down to the desert in the South for 40 days and nights.
What I want us to see is that God fed Elijah, then he got him up and out of that cave. In dealing with our times of depression, it is vital that we maintain healthy habits such as eating to nourish our bodies, even if you don’t feel hungry or feel like eating, and get up out of that cave!!!
Force yourself to interact with society. That is what God did for Elijah and I am certain that, that is what God would do with us as well.
V. To overcome Depression, I need to understand that I am not alone.
Vs. 9, 18 “There he went into a cave and spent the night. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
You need to understand something this morning, “You are not Alone in this”, God is there, in fact if you are a follower of Christ, just like Elijah God is taking care of you.
When our allied troops were making their way across Europe to cross Hitler’s forces, they came across a bombed out building that had this inscription scrawled on a basement wall:
"I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining.
I believe in love even when it is not shown.
And I believe in God even He doesn’t speak."
When a person is depressed, they don’t think God is doing much of anything. They have no hope, no confidence, and God isn’t easily seen by them. A person in depression needs to realize that – just like Elijah – God IS working in their lives… even when they can’t see Him.
Conclusion
Maybe today you are someone you love is dealing with serious depression and you need to pray, either for yourself or for them or both, I want to invite you to this altar today and do that, and I encourage you to be honest before the Lord.
I want to speak to others who are here today, before I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, I struggled with depression and often it would get the best of me, so much so that I attempted suicide, but I tell people all the time, my cure was and still is Jesus.
The scripture says in John 8:36 “If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.” Maybe you are dealing with depression in your life and you know that you have never given you heart to Jesus, then I would encourage you to come and receive the freedom that Jesus wants to give to you today.
