Depression is a condition all Christians will experience at some point in their lives. There are many false ideas about depression that I would like to clear up. First of all I would like to say that I am NOT a doctor and there are depression situations which should be treated with medicine. God blessed mankind with knowledge pertaining to medicine, so let’s use it. This being said, our spiritual condition has nothing to do with depression. Just because we feel depressing emotions does not mean we are lacking in faith. We have a fallen nature with its needs, wants, and emotions that can sometimes be overbearing. Another idea people may believe is that they are alone in feeling depressed, that they are unique and too far from “normal” (whatever that may be). They feel there is no hope; that no one will understand. These feeling can become so intense that a person may even consider ending their own life.
There are different kinds of depression and different causes of depression. Dr. Gary R. Collins Ph.D. talks about four different types of depression.
1. Reactive depression – emotions that can be felt after real or imagined loss or after a traumatic event.
2. Endogenous depression- depression that comes from within and doesn’t have a definite source.
3. Psychotic depression – intense despair and self-destructive attitudes
4. Neurotic- dysthymia
Many causes of depression are:
1. Physical-Genetic causes
2. Background
3. Learned Helplessness
4. Negative Thinking
5. Life Stress
6. Anger
7. Guilt
The Bible has a lot to say about depression. David, the second king of Israel and a man after God’s own heart, struggled with depression. In Psalms 43:5 we read, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” David is telling his soul to “Hope in God”, but he felt saddened nonetheless. He knows God is a faithful God, a God who “is the health of my countenance”, a God worthy of praise, and yet he was feeling depressed. Many Christians may feel this same way.
When I was deep in my drug addiction, I had many bouts with depression, mainly feelings of anger toward myself for where I was in life and the choices I had made. I knew I was saved as a teenager but I could not handle my low self-esteem and anxiety around others. I felt everyone had received a memo on life and mine was lost. People use drugs because they work; they gave me the release from life I was looking for. However, this “solution” only added to my problems. It’s hard to grow up when all you want to do is party. God was with me during these times and I had occasional revivals to straighten out my life but my depression still remained. I had to learn life on life’s terms. I had to learn to rely on God and not myself for victory over my flesh.
1 Kings 19:1-18 tells the story of Elijah and he’s struggle with suicidal depression. This mighty man of God had just claimed victory over the prophets of Baal on their own mountain. Mt. Caramel was supposedly the home of this false god and the place where he displayed his might through thunder and lightning. 1 Kings 18:20-40 records how Jehovah God used Elijah to show the nation of Israel He was the only One and true God. After God demonstrated His might in this showdown with the prophets of Baal, Elijah calls for all of Jezebel’s prophets to be killed. Jezebel was the Queen of Israel and a devoted follower of Baal. King Ahab had married Jezebel for political reasons and allowed her false religion to infect his life and the Israeli kingdom. Upon hearing what happened, Jezebel threatened Elijah that before the day was over she was going to kill him (v.2 of chap.19). Elijah hearing this, surprisingly, goes into hiding. He runs south to Beersheba; a 90 mile journey from Samaria, the capital of Israel. He gets there, tells his servant to hang tight, and goes another 15 miles into the middle of the desert. Some people may say, “Shame on him!” or “I would have done different”, however, it is easy for us to say what we would have done after the fact. We have to consider all that Elijah had been through.
1. He had been alone for 3 ½ years during a drought that he himself implemented. That’s a long time without any human interaction. I’m sure he worried for his people during this time, also. Have you ever been in a powerless situation?
2. We have to consider to anxiety he must have felt when you faced the prophets of Baal. Of course he had God and the verses tell us he was mocking them, but he was only human. He must have felt some sense of fear. Being brave doesn’t mean you don’t fear, it means facing the challenge with your fear. Have you ever been fearful?
3. Elijah faced 450 prophets by himself. He felt alone in his mission for God. How discouraging that must have felt. Have you ever felt alone in following the will of God?
4. We also have to consider what Satan was up to during this time. I’m sure he was all over Elijah with his lies and deception.
Verse 4 records Elijah’s prayer, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers”. He was feeling defeated, finished. He just wanted to go home. God had other plans though, God still needed him, depressed or not. This is a truth we must learn, God has a plan for us, even when we are a mess! God uses selfish and whiny sinners like us all day long. When Christ called us sheep, it wasn’t a compliment! Let’s look at how God handles the situation.
1. God starts by meeting his physical needs (v.5-6). It’s like God is telling Elijah, “Hey, eat something and relax, ok?” When was the last time you relaxed with God? The Bible says an Angel of the LORD brought Elijah “Angel food” cake baked on coals with a jar of water. Now, the word angel here means “messenger”, so simply this was a Messenger of the LORD. This Messenger of the LORD is Jesus Christ Himself! (I would love to discuss this more with anyone who is surprised at this statement, just let me know). Christ had come to minister to Elijah’s needs. Christ stands ready for you also!
2. Verse 7 says’ “And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” Christ nudges a depressed Elijah to tell him, “Hey, I still need you, get ready.” Are you getting ready for God to use you? Jesus tells Elijah to arise and eat, what about you, have you fed on God’s Word today? Man can’t live on bread alone! Good days, bad days, ordinary days, read the Bible. The Great Physician highly suggests it.
3. We see in verse 8 that Elijah goes to Mt. Horeb, the mount of God, a 200 mile, 40 day journey! You may know this mountain by another name, Mt. Sinai. It was here that God spoke to Moses and the nation of Israel. Elijah is seeking God and he founds Him! God is prepared to counsel Elijah, to give ear to his concerns. God is interested in your concerns as well! He is a loving Father, not a Cosmic Kill-joy! God simple asks’ “What doest thou here, Elijah?” What bought you to these feelings, Elijah? Elijah then lets God know all that he had done for Him, that everyone has forsaken Him, and that he was alone in standing for Him (v.10). Not only that, they were trying to kill him. Elijah was a little worried and he makes sure that God knows it. Have you told God your concerns, or your feelings? Many people use prayer as a last resort, how backwards we are! Prayer comes first!
4. Now God asks Elijah to stand before Him (v.11), upon doing this, God proceeds to display His majesty! Winds break through the mountain, an earthquake shakes the ground, and fire roars up into the sky! What a show this must have been for Elijah! The Bible says for each of these miracles, the Lord was not in them, but that He was in a still small voice speaking to Elijah (v.12). To me, this says that God could supernaturally taken away our feelings and make us happy 24/7, forever smiling from ear to ear, but that would make us robots and effect our free will. He primarily talks to us through the Holy Spirit, that still small voice we all hear, and ignore from time to time. Are you listening for the small voice? Or are you continuingly drowning out the Holy Spirit?
5. God then tells Elijah (v.15), Go! Depressed or not, you must keep on living! You are not abnormal! You are not alone! Seek Me Elijah, and I will give you rest! We must realize that life isn’t a straight line of continually happiness, it’s a roller coaster, going up and down. We must praise God through the Up’s and through the Down’s. We may think to ourselves that this is an easy thing to do, but tragedy and depression may be just around the corner. We must commune with God daily, so when these feelings and heartaches do come our way, we have already built that relationship. We must teach ourselves to not only fear God but to also rely on Him. To give Him the small aspects of life as well as the big.
Do you deal with depression daily? Have you told anyone?
Here is a quick reference to a few principles about dealing with depression.
A. Recognize that God is always there.
B. Start with a little R and R.
C. Seek Godly counsel.
D. Keep yourself busy.
E. Remember you are not alone.
F. Disciple and teach others about how you deal with your depression.
I would like to end this simply with a verse from Deuteronomy.
“The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8 (NIV).
