Depression and the Grace of God

Notes:

Depression and the Grace of God    See Session Slides Here

  • Depression has the third highest burden of all diseases in Australia (13.3%) and also third globally.
  • The World Health Organization estimates that depression will be the number one health concern in both the developed and developing nations by 2030.
  • Every day, at least 6 Australians die from suicide and a further 30 people will attempt suicide.
  • Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 years.
  • Christians are not immune from depression. E.g. John Bunyan, Martin Luther, Spurgeon, David. Elijah.

In chapters 1 Kings 18&19 we see Elijah at his best and worst:

In chapter 18 he is bold, taking on the prophets of Baal, calling down fire from heaven, opening the heavens and outrunning Ahab’s chariot for 18 miles.

In chapter 19 he is fearful, running from Jezebel, wallowing in self-pity, asking to die.

Why the change?

  • 1 Kings 19:3&4. ‘When he saw that he was afraid’. Depression occurs when one is overwhelmed by their perception of stressful situations, Prov.12:25.
  • Previously he waited for the word of the LORD, 1 Kings 17:2,8;  1 Kings 18:1. When he took his eyes off the LORD, his mind became fixed on Jezebel. He could only see the worst case scenario.

‘Elijah was a man with a nature like ours’ (Jas.5:17). What made him so vulnerable?

  • He tended towards isolation.
  • After the great victory on Mount Carmel, the people were ecstatic but Jezebel hadn’t changed at all. ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Mountain-tops are usually followed by valleys.
  • He drifted from righteous anger to personal anger. He was angry with the people. But most of all he was angry with God. God hasn’t sent us to damage people.
  • He felt God had let him down. His expectations of what God would do did not come to pass. He presumed the outcome of the Mount Carmel experience would be repentance. When our identity is in results we are vulnerable. He was perplexed and disillusioned.
  • He was emotionally drained and physically exhausted. He needed food and rest.
  • He became despondent. A sense of hopelessness. 1 Kings 19:4, ‘It is enough.’ Who hasn’t said that?
  • Satan moved in to condemn him. He prays a suicidal prayer.

How God ministered to him

  • He ran out of gas but not out of grace. When he was obedient he was fed by ravens. When he was disobedient he was fed by angels! God pours out His blessing on those running away. E.g. Jonah.
  • God refreshed him physically. 1 Kings 19:5-8. God tended to his physical needs. He let him sleep. Elijah needed sleep to rest his jaded nerves. Psa.127:2. Then He gave him food. We cannot separate the natural from the spiritual. When we are tired we cannot respond to pressure the same.
  • God encouraged him spiritually. If what you believe does not reflect truth, then what you feel does not reflect reality. Change the way you think and you’ll change the way you feel. Our emotions are mainly a product of our thoughts. Think right and you will feel right!

 We have a sound mind, i.e. the ability to control our thinking. 2 Cor.10:4-5. This means:

  • Recognize and reject ‘stinking thinking’. We cannot determine what thoughts enter our minds, but we can control which ones stay there. The root of anxiety is a belief that is not based in truth.
  • Replace wrong thinking with the truth. Peace is the result of fixing our minds on the right things.
  • He brought revelation to him; a new perspective: a) ‘You are not the only one serving Me.’ Compare 1 Kings 19:10&14 with 1 Kings 19:18; b) God is not in the wind, earthquake or fire, but in the still, small voice; c) He got him active. Doing nothing enforces depression, 1 Kings 19:15-18. d) He gave him a companion – Elisha.
  • Deliverance from depression comes through trusting in God’s Word, Prov. 12:25; Psa.42:5.

The Book of Revelation © Ken Legg, Australia