Even Great People of Faith Get Depressed

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Elijah Longs for Death Here is one more example of depression in the Bible. Elijah, after just having seen God's marvelous power, runs for his life and hides. His fear, anxiety and fatigue result in suicidal thoughts. Often depression strikes after a personal high, or great achievements.
Elijah got depressed when he was rebuked by Queen Jezebel while he was anticipating a moment of triumph. His hopes were crushed, and his heart was painfully sick. When Elijah became fearful, tired and depressed, he fled from his God-given responsibilities. He was so depressed and he asked God's permission to let him die. Elijah's problem is his physical tiredness. God let him sleep and He sent His angel to ask Elijah eat and drink. Elijah regained his strength and he went, continuing do God-given responsibilities for him. Have enough rest and enough meal. It is good to heal depression.
• 1Kings 19:4 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 away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Pay attention to what happens next!
• 1Ki 19:5-13 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 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. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
• And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD;
• but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
The Still Small Voice! Listen to it...
• And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
...and come out of that cave!
Depression is like a cave that is dark and cold, at some point we have to come out of the cave. Elijah was a mighty man of God, yet he was depressed.
Jonah
Prophet Jonah grew angry when God canceled His punishment upon sinful city, Nineveh. Jonah's anger was a cause as well as a symptom of his depression. We must pay attention in this case as residual anger adversely affect the chemical balance of the brain. Like Elijah, Jonah wanted to die. The Bible teaches us to put away anger before the sun goes down. God had given Jonah many lessons if he wanted to hear and obey God, he would escape from depression. God taught Jonah about mercy, justice, forgiveness and God's authority.
From the stories of the above mentioned men, whom recovered and went on with their lives, we learn that God along with the Bible is the most powerful resource for combating depression. The Bible provides many enlightenment and encouragement sentences and actions for depressing situations. The God's ways were effective combating depression of Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah and Jonah. His ways are effective also for us and depressed people in 21st century. Jesus Christ says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" And he has more offers for you to heal your depression. Walk with Him in your life.

King Solomon
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. That was Solomon's statement about everything done under heaven. The wisest man and also the richest man ever alive, Solomon was depressed after applying his mind to seek the really important thing in this earth. His wisdom and richness could not satisfy him. He even said that the dead man was more fortunate than the living who is still alive. All his frustration is written in Ecclesiastes Book. Finally in chapter 12, Solomon understood deeply the thing that really matter in this life that is God Himself. "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth... " he started chapter 12. And he closed his book by these sentence: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Job
Job suffered depression after losing his possession; first his wealth, then all his 10 children. The professionals say the loss of something significant is a major reason for depression. Not only depression Job was devastated by a sorrowful physical affliction: he had loathsome sores in his entire body from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. To make it worse his wife asked him to curse God and die. His three closed friends were suspicious that Job hid great sin. God healed Job by giving him right understanding about Him through nature, His creation. Job answered God that previously he only heard about God, but after the accident he saw God with his own eyes. God healed Job's sickness including his depression, blessed Job twice as much as he had before and then Job also had another 7 sons and 3 daughters. So, see the nature (enjoy sightseeing), admire and admit God's authority in your life, your depression will be healed.
Moses
Moses, the man with meek heart, got depressed while facing the Israelite for years. They always murmured against Moses when they found something unpleasant. As a melancholic and perfectionist, Moses tended to be depressed since the beginning of his life. God changed Moses' weakness to be his strength. He was a loner, pessimistic, egoistic, discontent and humbled himself excessively. Moses was transformed after walking with God. He was a successful great leader of Israel as he submissive, faithfully obeyed God. Trust and obey God's order is a medicine for depression in Moses' case.