For many years the church across the world has not dealt with some issues very well. One of those issues is depression.
I have heard it said and maybe you, too, that Depression:
- Is demon possession
- God’s punishment for sin
- Caused by a lack of faith
- God’s face turned against you
Depression affects everyone. Men, women, rich and poor, famous and successful; all are affected by it.
Over ninety-five percent of even the severely depressed can be totally cured if the condition is identified early enough.
Depression in itself is not sin. It is a symptom of something disturbing the balance in your life. There are many causes for depression. The cause may be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual
Even some of our great preachers of the past have dealt with severe depression: D.L. Moody, Adam Clarke, Moses, David, Solomon and the prophet Elijah.
I want to talk about The Prophet Elijah this morning. He had the perfect setting for a bad case of depression.
- He had been working for the Lord relentlessly and without rest. (workaholic)
- He had been running from King Ahab for 3 ½ years. (fugitive)
- He had seen God at work in his life in extraordinary ways (Pentecostal)
- He was there to see God send fire down from Heaven
- He was responsible for 850 false prophets being killed
- He out ran the Kings horses and chariots to the city of Jezreel a distance of over 30 miles (marathon runner)
- He was tired. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually (this prophet is worn out.)
** Sometimes we get worn out too. That is the perfect setting for depression to set in.
To top it all off, the King’s wife wanted his head on a silver platter…
"Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time" (1 Kings 19:1-2).
This was not a veiled threat, or a little paranoia at work in the tired prophet’s mind. This threat from Jezebel was real and unimagined.
He became a broken prophet (19:3-4).
- The reaction of Elijah takes us a little by surprise. After all that God has just done in his life, we don’t expect this to happen to our prophet.
- It is amazing how God does great things in our lives but then one person who knows the right button to push can set off a panic attack in us and we forget God’s presence.
- Do you know someone who responds this way? Do you have someone in your life that knows your vulnerable spot and can set it off in the drop of a hat?
- Elijah came to the end of himself. He couldn’t take anymore of the pressure. He told the LORD, "It is enough!" Elijah prayed to die. "But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" (v. 4).
Have you ever been so emotionally exhausted that you just wanted to lie down and die? If so, you can identity with Elijah and many more people today.
Symptoms of depression.
1. A depressed person has feelings of hopelessness, despair, sadness and apathy. It is a feeling of overall gloom. A paralysis of the will sets in, and there is a movement toward personal deadness.
2. The depressed person loses perspective on life, work, family and friends.
3. The depressed person experiences changes in his physical activities
4. The depressed person has a general loss of self-esteem. He feels less and less positive about himself and questions his own personal worth. His self–confidence is very low.
5. There is a withdrawal from others because of fear of being rejected.
6. The depressed person’s withdrawal brings on some rejection by others. They cancel favorite activities, fail to return phone calls, and seek ways to avoid talking with or seeing other people.
7. The depressed person seeks to escape from problems and even from life itself. Thoughts of leaving home, running away or avoiding others is common. They feel life is hopeless and worthless. Therefore, suicidal thoughts are common.
8. The depressed person is overly sensitive to what others say and do. He/She may misinterpret actions and comments in a negative way and become upset because of those mistaken perceptions. The person cries often and is sad.
9. The depressed person has difficulty handling his feelings, especially anger. Anger is particularly difficult since it can be misdirected toward self and others. A sense of worthlessness and lack of knowing how to deal with a situation produces anger at oneself. This can be directed outward at others.
10. There is usually an underlying feeling of guilt that may be real or imagined. Frequently he feels overly responsible for other people’s feelings.
11. Often depression leads to a dependency state upon other people. This further reinforces a feeling of helplessness. The depressed person then becomes angry at his own helplessness.
Is depression a sin?
- No! It is an indication that something in your life is not right. It is like the "engine light" on your car. When the engine light comes on you pull over, stop and check out your system.
- When you are getting depressed stop and check out your emotional, spiritual and physical system.
- Something is out of adjustment. Some area of your life is being neglected. You need to stop and give it some attention.
Depression is not a sin.
- But if your behavior is contrary to your moral standards or your value system this usually results in depression.
- It produces real guilt, and guilt is a component in depression. If you are living in sin depression is one of God’s warning signals. He is saying to you STOP! Repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.
- However, sin is not the cause of all depression.
Elijah was not thinking realistically.
- Elijah’s mind was focused on Jezebel instead of the LORD. He was overwhelmed with her threat. "He was afraid and arose and ran for his life" (v. 3).
Causes for Depression
1. The common thread that underlies much of depression is a sense of loss. This sense of loss may be real or imagined. The depressed person needs a renewed sense of hope. He needs to get refocused.
2. Repressed anger turned inward upon oneself will lead to depression.
3. Reactive depression, or grief reaction, occurs after the loss of a loved one, job or some important opportunity. This is very common in life, and it usually lessens with time. The loss of a close friend or relative by death or a move brings on this kind of emotional reaction.
4. Negative and faulty thinking is the root of most depression. "As a man thinks in his heart so is he."
5. Low self–esteem causes, reinforces and intensifies depression.
6. Unrealistic expectations cause depression.
7. Success, achieving a high goal, gaining a valued position with the demands for higher level of performance can be threatening and lead to depression.
8. Often the depressed person is overwhelmed by the negative circumstances such as financial problems or failures, threat from someone. He looses his sense of perspective in the critical situation.
He left God out of the picture.
- Elijah was emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted. His response to Jezebel’s threats was to run and to give up, "I have had it." "It is enough." "Now, O LORD, take my life."
- Where is God? Where is the LORD in his life? Elijah has gotten things out of focus. He has lost his perspective. God is not in the picture.
- Jesus said, "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
- Isaiah wrote, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3, KJV).
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Elijah had separated himself form his support group.
1. Depressed persons often withdraw and become paralyzed emotionally and relationally. They shut people out of their lives. They cut off and push away friends, family and professional help. Elijah did this.
- I don’t understand it, but people leave churches after depression set in
2. The depressed often want to escape from relationships, even supportive relationships.
3. Depression feeds on loneliness and withdrawal.
Elijah had fallen into the poor me trap (19:4).
- Elijah "requested for himself that he might die, and said, ’It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.’"
- Whoever said he had to be better than his father is? His self-standard was exaggerated. The reality was God still had thousands of believers who were faithful to Him (v. 18).
- Self–pity leads to depression. This in turn reinforces a poor self-image and further aggravates the depression.
A SENSIBLE SOLUTION TO DEPRESSION
Get some rest and refreshment.
Elijah needed some R and R, and God provided it for His man (vv. 5-7). "He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, ’rise, eat.’ Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, ’rise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.’"
Communicate your feelings.
- God gently, tenderly spoke to Elijah and drew him out (v. 8-9). "So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ’What are you doing here, Elijah?’"
- God got Elijah talking (v. 10). Elijah said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
- The Lord gently reminds Elijah of his unconditional acceptance and love.
- It is beautiful how the LORD works with Elijah and lifts him out of his depression and despair. He does not lecture to him. But He teaches Elijah great truths.
Conclusion:
In his depression, Charles Spurgeon reminded himself, "God is so good." Learn from your depression, and when you have come out of it God will take you and use you to minister to others who are hurting. Get the Lord Jesus Christ back into your picture. Don’t get so involved and overwhelmed with your circumstances that you fail to get eternity into the picture. Refocus. Get you faith centered upon Jesus Christ.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
