Introduction:
A. The story is told of a depressed man who was sitting at a bar just looking at his drink.
1. He stayed like that for half an hour.
2. Suddenly, a big, mean-looking man stepped next to him, took the drink from the guy, and just drank it all down.
3. This caused the depressed man to start crying.
4. The other man tried to cheer him up, saying: “Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't stand seeing a man cry.”
5. “No, it's not that,” said the depressed man. “This day is the worst of my life. First, I fell asleep, and I got to work late. My boss, in an outrage, fired me. When I left the building and went to my car, I found out it was stolen. I took a cab to home, but after he drove away I realized my wallet was still in the cab. Then I walked in the house only to realize that my wife had packed up everything and left me. Finally, I came to this bar. And when I was about to end to my life, you showed up and drank my glass of poison. Could my day get any worse?”
B. Truthfully, discouragement and depression are nothing to joke about.
1. Here are some sobering words that maybe you can identify with:
“What name shall we give to this darkness within, against which our soul is helpless to fight?
What shall we call this attitude grim that smothers our heart and refuses the light?”
2. What is this occasional shadow on our emotions that Winston Churchill called his “black dog?”
3. What is this heaviness of heart that caused Nathaniel Hawthorne to write: “I have excluded myself from society; and yet I never meant any such thing. I have made a captive of myself and put me into a dungeon, and now I cannot find the key to let myself out.” ?
4. What caused the fierce, agonizing spells that so beset Martin Luther that we wrote: “For more than a week I was close to the gates of death and hell. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.” ?
C. What is the name of this darkness? Its’ name is depression.
1. What is depression? It is a protracted period of despondency that greatly curtails, or even destroys one’s ability to function as a healthy, happy child of God.
2. What are the symptoms of depression? They may include:
a. Sadness/moodiness: feeling discouraged, angry, and irritable.
b. Painful thoughts: such as guilt, helplessness, worthlessness and a desire to be dead.
c. Feelings of anxiety: being worried and tense.
d. Physical symptoms include: sickness, no appetite, headaches, and insomnia.
D. Who becomes depressed?
1. Depression is to the emotions what the common cold is to the body – it strikes about everyone at some point.
2. About 1 American in 20 is depressed at any given time.
3. Depression does hit some of us harder than others:
a. Women are depressed twice as often as men.
b. People in upper income brackets are three times more depressed than those with lower incomes.
c. Depression is more common when a person is in their 40’s and 50’s.
(Stats are from Minirth & Meier, Happiness is a Choice, 1978)
4. What about Christians, do they become depressed?
a. Oh, yes, God’s children are not immune to becoming depressed.
b. But as God’s children, we should be better equipped to handle and recover from depression, but we are not immune from it.
5. Did you know that some of the greatest people in the Bible went through periods of depression?
a. Moses once became so blue and discouraged that he asked God to take his life.
b. Jonah, after the great revival at Nineveh, did the very same thing.
c. The Apostle Paul “despaired even of life” at certain points in his ministry.
E. And guess who else in the Bible became depressed? You guessed it, Elijah.
1. For a number of weeks, we have been studying the life and example of Elijah.
2. Elijah, indeed, was a heroic prophet. He was also a man of great faith, obedience and humility, as we have seen.
3. But we must never forget that Elijah was a man just like us – he was a human being who was also subject to the human condition, as we all are.
4. Elijah experienced, discouragement, despondency and depression, and on one occasion, he couldn’t shake it.
F. I’m so glad that this chapter has been included in Scripture.
1. I’m glad that when God paints the portraits of His men and women, He paints them with warts and all.
2. God never ignores their weaknesses or hides their failures.
G. So let’s review for just a moment – what brought Elijah to this point?
1. First, God sent Elijah to the evil King Ahab to announce the start of a three year drought.
2. Then God sent Elijah to hide at the Cherith brook where God miraculously supplied his needs.
3. Then God sent Elijah to a widow’s house at Zaraphath where God again miraculously provided.
4. Then God sent Elijah back to King Ahab to announce the end of the drought and to propose a showdown on Mount Carmel.
5. The people of Israel were invited to the showdown along with all 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah.
6. Baal failed the test, but God rained down fire from heaven.
7. Having won the hearts of the people of Israel, Elijah ordered the slaughter of the 850 false prophets.
8. Almost immediately, God lifted the three year drought, and with supernatural power, Elijah raced the king’s chariot, on foot, all the way to Jezreel and beat him.
9. This is where we pick up Elijah’s story for today.
H. The Bible says: Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 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.” (1 Kgs. 19:1-2)
1. There are a couple of interesting things about these verses.
2. First of all, it is clear from these verses who is the dominant person in King Ahab’s marriage.
a. If anyone should have sent a threatening message to Elijah or make a plan to eliminate him, it should have been King Ahab, not his wife, Jezebel.
b. Yet look who took the lead – it was Jezebel who sent the message and made a plan to kill Elijah.
3. The other thing that is interesting to me is that Jezebel made the vow to eliminate Elijah and couched it with the notion that the “gods” could strike her dead if she wasn’t successful.
a. It’s funny to me that she would mention these “gods” because they are the very “gods” who didn’t show up at the showdown on Mt. Carmel.
b. Had she forgotten that her gods were helpless and useless?
I. How did Elijah react to these developments and this threat?
1. The Bible says: Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 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.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. (1 Kgs. 19:3-5)
2. Is this the reaction you would expect from Elijah after all we have seen him endure?
a. We would never expect him to fall for that wicked woman’s hallow threat.
b. We would expect Elijah to say to himself, “Hey, God is in control here, not Jezebel. Don’t give a second through to her threats. Trust God as you’ve done for years.”
3. But that’s not what happened here.
4. Elijah was overcome by fear and he fled. When he reached his destination, he plopped down in utter despair.
J. After all Elijah had been through, why did he have such an uncharacteristic reaction?
1. Why did Elijah sink so deeply into depression so soon after reaching the highest point of his life and ministry?
2. There are at least two possibilities.
3. The first reason for his reaction may be the classic mountain top/valley experience.
a. Once we hit an emotional high point in our lives, then there’s nowhere to go but down.
b. This often happens to people after major positive experiences.
1. After graduation from high school or college – the fear of “then what” sets in.
2. After the birth of a child – there is often a letdown, or post-partum depression.
3. After getting married – the honeymoon comes to an end and we think what have I done.
4. After moving into a new house – the feeling of “is this it?” sets in.
5. Even after baptism – Satan often comes at us with his harshest attacks.
6. So, perhaps this is what happened with Elijah.
4. The second reason for Elijah’s depression at this point may be the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” syndrome.
a. Elijah had successfully faced the King, the pagan prophets, but now the queen’s threat was just too much.
b. All by itself, the threat of Jezebel might not have affected him, but after coming on top of everything else it was “the straw that broke that camel’s back.”
c. Sometimes it takes all our strength to handle the big problem we are facing, and then along comes a relatively minor problem: a flat tire, a burned meal, or spilled milk and it pushes us over the edge.
d. The big problems drain us, and then the little problems drive us into depression.
5. Whatever set it off, Elijah was clearly depressed and ready to quit.
6. Elijah’s experience is the perfect case study in the basic causes and cures of depression.
7. Let’s spend a few minutes looking at how God offered solutions for the causes of Elijah’s depressed state.
I. Depression’s Causes and Cures
A. The first cause of Elijah’s depression was OVER-EXERTION.
1. Elijah was physically worn out.
a. Look at what he had been through physically:
1. Years of roughing it in the wilderness and at the widow’s house.
2. Intense activity for a whole day on Mt. Carmel.
3. He ran from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel – about 20 miles.
4. He ran from Jezreel to Beersheba – about 100 miles.
5. Then from Beersheba he went a day’s journey into the desert.
b. So, when Elijah sat under the broom tree, he was suffering from exhaustion.
c. He was faint from the sun’s heat, weak from a lack of food, and spent from the physical exertion.
2. No wonder he was depressed!
a. It is difficult to be positive when we are physically exhausted.
b. Depression is often a signal, or an indicator that something else is physically wrong or out of balance.
3. What was God’s solution for this cause of Elijah’s depression? Rest and Food.
a. What Elijah needed was a long nap and some good food.
b. The Bible says: 5Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. 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. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
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.” 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. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. (1 Kgs. 19:5-9)
c. There is nothing unspiritual or trivial about our health.
d. Simple health-related problems can be the cause of depression.
e. The advice that many of us need is: get plenty of rest, eat right and exercise.
f. That was part of God’s prescription for Elijah.
B. The second cause of Elijah’s depression was being OVER-BURDENED.
1. Elijah tried to carry too much and he tried to carry it all by himself.
2. The Bible says: And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
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.” (1 Kgs. 19:9-10)
3. Perhaps God’s question in verse 9, “What are you doing here?” was His way of prompting Elijah to verbalize his frustrations.
a. One thing is for sure – Elijah jumped at the chance to speak.
b. Elijah’s response shows his exasperation – I have been zealous and I’m the only one left.
4. What was God’s solution for this cause of depression? A renewed view of God.
5. The Bible says: 11 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
6. What Elijah needed to be reminded of was that God is the Almighty God.
a. No one person is indispensable.
b. The world existed before we were born, and will exist after were gone.
c. We individuals do God’s work, but only by His power.
7. Elijah had gotten tunnel vision and all he could see was his work, his problems and himself, and he was trying to carry them all alone.
a. God helped him see the most important thing – God Himself!
8. Do you ever get over-burdened and feel that it’s all up to you?
a. God’s prescription is to take a good look toward heaven.
b. Depression distorts our perspective – seeing God restores it.
C. The third cause of Elijah’s depression was SELF-PREOCCUPATION.
1. When we become depressed, we become self-blaming, self-demanding, and often self-hating.
a. We draw up mental lists of faults, problems and sorrows.
b. We feel sorry for ourselves, and feel that no one understands or cares – a pity party.
2. Elijah said, “I have had enough, Lord, take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (vs. 4)
a. Elijah said, “I am the only one!” (vs. 10 and 14)
b. All he could see was focus on himself.
3. What was God’s solution for his self-preoccupation? Turn the focus outward.
a. God didn’t tell Elijah to ‘snap out of it,” instead, He said, “Do this, and this, and then that.”
4. The Bible says: 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (19:15-18)
5. God wanted Elijah to turn his attention away from himself and his feelings, back toward his duties with others.
6. Martin Luther’s cure for his depression was to “harness the horses and spread the manure on the fields.”
7. We all need a cause. We all need a concern. We all need a commitment outside ourselves.
8. So God put Elijah back to work – God told him to get off the couch and go do these things.
9. God also said, “Oh, and by the way: you are not alone, there are 7000 who are still on my side.”
D. The final cause of Elijah’s depression was ISOLATION.
1. Where was Elijah when he gave up? In a desert absolutely alone!
2. From the very beginning, God has recognized that “it is not good for man to be alone.”
3. Being isolated from others can cause loneliness and depression.
a. Once depressed, the person will often physically and emotionally withdraw even further.
4. What was God’s solution for Elijah – to establish a new relationship, to get close to someone.
5. The final verse of chapter 19 says: Then he (Elisha) set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. (1 Kgs. 19:21)
6. God sent Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet, and Elisha followed Elijah and became his attendant.
7. Elisha, the prophet in training, stuck close to Elijah, learning from him and sharing his mission.
8. Nothing makes work go faster and makes it lighter than to have someone to work with.
9. That’s really what being a part of the church is all about – we really need each other.
10. God has not designed us to live like hermits in a cave – He has designed us to live in friendship and fellowship with others.
Conclusion:
A. Elijah was “a man just like us” – that means he had his ups and downs – he understood and experienced the rollercoaster of life.
1. Elijah’s depression was paralyzing until he followed God’s prescription.
2. For his over-exertion – he turned to rest and food.
3. For his being over-burdened – he found a renewed view of God.
4. For his self-preoccupation – he turned his focus outward and did something for others.
5. For his isolation – he formed a new relationship with someone.
6. Next time you find yourself in a depressed state, consider this list of causes and try to implement the appropriate cures.
B. When we are depressed, we also need to keep in mind these three simple truths that we see at work in Elijah’s life.
1. First, God wants the very best for us.
2. Second, God knows right where we are and what we are feeling.
3. Third, God knows what we need and can supply it.
C. Sir Harry Lauder was a British entertainer who proved highly popular throughout the English speaking world both before, during and after World War One.
1. During World War One Lauder worked tirelessly to organize and recruit performers for shows given to troops serving abroad.
2. When Sir Harry Lauder’s only son was killed in WWI, he said to a friend: “When a man comes to a thing like this, there are just three ways out of it – there is drink, there is despair, and there is God. By His grace, the last is for me.”
3. Are you depressed and burdened today? I think we all know the truth, and that is that God is the only way out of depression.
4. That is not to say that seeing a counselor and using medication are not the things God will use to help us out of depression.
5. But when those things are helpful it is only because they are instruments used by God that accompany our faith and trust in the Lord.
6. I love the invitation the Jesus gives to everyone: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:28-30)
7. If you need to come to Jesus for comfort, cleansing, strength or rest, then we invite you to come.
Resources:
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility, by Charles Swindoll, Thomas Nelson, 2000.
Naming the Darkness, Sermon by Dan Williams of El Dorado, AR, 1985.
A Man Just Like Us, Sermon by Dan Williams of El Dorado, AR 1985.
