Healing of Depression (Elijah)

1Kings 19.

Introduction: Shalom in Hebrew means peace, health, wholeness, completeness, soundness, etc.

In the beginning in Eden, there was such a 'shalom' and will also be there at the end: Rev. 21:4.

Go is now restoring 'shalom' through redemption, healing process- known as 'Divine Therapy'.

Let us see how this Divine Therapy worked in the life of Elijah in the OT history.

Elijah's life: he was victorious (1Kings 18). Was at the pinnacle of his life having just defeated the mighty Baal's prophets.

Then comes the threatening of that wicked woman Jezebel. (1Kings 19:2).

So be on alert, whenever you have accomplished something great or noteworthy, there is this temptation or threat from the enemy to put you down. You do not know how it may come. Yet. there is a real danger soon after you have won!

Such a strong Elijah falls into the depths of despair, depression and defeat after hearing the threats of Jezebel. Yes, it's possible that you can be overwhelmed by a simple or single temptation to keep you down. Peter was scarred by a little girl to deny the Lord!

The ingredients of Elijah's depression:

1. Emotional factors:

-shock, felt sudden threat to all his future plans from Jezebel.

-fear, became so scarred, fear gripped him. He feared for his safety & felt his life was in danger.

2. Physical factors:

-isolation (v 3,4) -left his servant too- so was alone. Loneliness breeds doubt, despair and unbelief.

Ask Thomas-who was not with the 12 when Jesus appeared).

-exhaustion (v 4,5)-think of the ordeal of the Carmel and the marathon run to Jezreel, travelling south to Beersheba and then the day's lonely journey in to the scorching desert. Hunger, lack of sleep, tiredness- all these help make depression more severe.

3. Psychological factors:

-a total failure complex (v 4)- He despaired thinking, "I am a failure!" From Jezreel to Junipar tree, there was a mental turmoil.

-misuse of facts (v 4,10,14)-had a partial view of some facts (18:13); an exaggerated view of other facts.

4. Spiritual factors:

-failure to believe God's answer to his prayers (v 10). Forgot the Mt. Carmel wonder. This is typical of depression.

-Satanic attack- Baal worship was bound up with the work of Satan- its perversions, worship of nature, its immoral depravity, its callous social oppression are the finger prints of the dark kingdom of Satan.

Elijah had challenged it. Satan fights back since he does not accept defeat. Though defeated on the cross, Satan is still active & alive.

The ingredients of divine therapy:

1. Sleep, food and drink ( v 5-8): God met first his physical exhaustion and hunger/thirst. There was no rebuke, no counseling nor calling him a failure!

-sleep too is a gift from God. (Ps. 127: 2).

-supplied food by an angel to give him some company.

2. God took him back to the roots of his faith and his mission: Sinai- the place at which God revealed Himself to His people in great power and with many signs (Ex. 19). He made covenant there. He gave His people their mission 7 identity in the world (Ex 19: 5-6).

Sinai is where it all started- so go back to where you began the basics. From there you will be revived and restored.

3. God questioned his behavior in the light of his mission (v 9, 13): The still small voice- not to scare him to work, but a whisper to question him, " what are you doing here", Elijah? (Elijah in Hebrew means 'Yahweh is God'). Here? To explain, not so much to rebuke.

4. God sends him back on his mission with reassurance ( v17-18)

-God did not drop him but sent him back to a bigger job.

-Refreshed, rebuked, Recommissioned and Reassured. Putting him on the road back to wholeness.

James 5: 17-20 says, Elijah was a man just like us.