Depression is prevalent in our world today. Some say that believers should not be depressed as it shows a lack of faith in God. This devotion looks at depression and one instance of how God has dealt with it when Elijah had it.
Once a long time ago, I had a conversation with someone who gave me some veiled information about things that were happening at my work. The conversation ended with the statement, “This is depressing you. You need to go get medicated” – or something to that effect.
The person who was giving me the information really didn’t have a clue about what was happening at my work. So, I went to the person who did — my supervisor. I could talk to her about anything.
I’ll never forget what my supervisor told me. “You aren’t depressed. You have to work really hard to be depressed.”
I get that. I remember when I said I was going to get a divorce, a friend was so surprised. Even though I had said time and time again what was wrong with my marriage, the friend only saw my joy. I thought, of course, my joy comes from the Lord, not my husband or my marriage.
Depression comes from this world. So, I thought I would do a little research into what depression is and what the Bible says about depression.
#dailydevotional #disciplesofchrist #depression
What Is Depression?
Depression is feelings of severe despondency and dejection. If you look at the symptoms, this can manifest itself in a number of ways.
Most of us recognize the hopelessness and helplessness associated with depression. Guilt and low-self esteem are also easily recognizable. This often leads to tears and affects our relationships with others.
We probably have all been depressed to some extent. There are many things that can trigger it. But are believers depressed because it is just a broken relationship with God?
Is It Just a Broken Relationship with God?
My BFF has taught me well – I googled it. The first resource I pulled up said the depression was an indication that my relationship with God was dysfunctional.
Some argue our relationship has broken down because we the joy in all circumstances is gone. You know, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (I Thess. 5: 18 NLT).
I can see that, but I don’t think it is that cut and dry. Immediately, Elijah pops up into my mind. Do you remember Elijah’s bout with depression in I King’s 19?
What? You’ve never thought of it that way? You just thought he was running for Elijah was running for his life.
Well, yes, he was.
Elijah was a major prophet. Jezabel threatened to kill Elijah after he had killed her prophets, so he ran away. He was really discouraged, thinking he was the only person alive who was still faithful to God.
But Elijah was really depressed, too.
Look at God’s Response
So, God got really mad and ripped Elijah a new one for having a broken relationship with Him? Quite the opposite.
You know God was watching over Elijah. You can bet that His heart was breaking because Elijah was so discouraged. Don’t we feel for others who are struggling? Wouldn’t our loving Heavenly Father feel even more?
God stepped up to comfort Elijah. “Then he [Elijah] lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat’” (I Kgs. 19: 5 NIV). The angel was sent by God to take care of Elijah.
Now, we are talking basic human needs here – food, drink, and sleep. “He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water …” (I Kgs. 19: 6 NIV). Obviously, Elijah hadn’t baked – he was asleep. God saw Elijah had a need and met it. God knew Elijah needed food to keep up his strength.
But we are also talking provision here. God came to Elijah. He saw that His prophet was struggling, and He didn’t wait for the prayers to start rising. God came looking for Elijah.
Elijah laid down again (I Kgs. 19: 6). I bet the angel wasn’t far away. I bet he was standing guard.
Verse seven says, “And the angel of the LORD came again a second time …” (I Kgs. 19: 7 ESV). God was taking good care of Elijah.
Making the Connections
God isn’t going to throw us out when we get depressed — broken relationship or not. “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut. 31: 8 ESV). His leaving us is one thing we never have to be worried about.
God sees us and hears us. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Ps. 34: 15 NIV). If He isn’t going to leave us, He isn’t going to tune us out, either. If He knew He wasn’t going to respond to our cry, He wouldn’t hear us.
Our troubles have a sunset. “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Ps 24: 17 ESV). Who are the righteous? We are if we are trying to follow Jesus’ example.
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Sometimes, God does answer us immediately. Sometimes, He lets us work through things. “I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God …” (Ps. 40: 1-3 MSG). Look, how He takes care of us!
How Do We Apply This?
Some equate worrying and depression with lack of faith in God. To me, that is a one-size-fits-all answer that may not always fit. I may be having lack of faith about me rather than lack of faith about God.
My having total belief in myself to do whatever God calls me to right off the bat might make me really, really proud. I could think that it was me doing this rather than God equipping me to do this. In reality, it isn’t about me; it is Him working through me.
Total, instantaneous acceptance doesn’t allow us to process. I am a processor. I know I will never totally understand what God has in mind (really, thinking I am a techie!), but God knows I work better when I have some idea the why, where, and how of things.
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I don’t think God wants us to blindly follow Him. If He wanted that, He wouldn’t have given us free will. Free will is the ability within us to make decisions, which determine actions that produce character. There would be no choice in the matter.
But God did give us free will, so we do have to make a choice. If we did do a blind leap of faith, how would that impact our witness? If we couldn’t give a clear, well-thought-out response to why we put our faith in God, why would others want what we have?
But I also get it. “Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God” (Ps. 42: 11 GNT).
I don’t think the issue is that we get depressed. I think that is just one of the consequences of the original sin. It is one way that Satan uses to break our relationship with God.
Glossary
I think our depression could also be a consequence of spiritual warfare. I know when I had my spiritual tornado, I was depressed. I knew Satan was fighting for me, but I was rock solid in my faith that God would prevail and provide.
I think God is more interested in what we do when we start getting down. Do we think He can handle whatever is depressing us? Do we even look to Him, or do we try to fix it on our own? He knows we are going to wonder about the how and the why.
We just have to have complete faith in The Who. We just have to say that God has this. When timing is right, He will have everything fall into place so it will be fixed. We just have to keep putting our trust in Him.
Father God. Thank You for coming to us and taking care of us as you did Elijah. You do know Satan uses our questioning as a tool to tear us apart. Lord, feed us. Let us rest in You. We know that You will never leave us. Strengthen our relationships with You. Amen.
What do you think?
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