How Can I Cope With Depression? Ep. 1390: Christian Questions Podcast

[00:11:35] How did Elijah manage his own depression and still serve God?

[00:23:04] Depression isn't about feeling sad. How did it affect Elijah?

[00:37:40] What finally made Elijah break free from his depressed state?

Depression can be overwhelming. Even though many people suffer from it, and even though there are treatments and medications that can help it, depression can still be an insurmountable life obstacle for every individual who faces it. There is no easy answer and no miracle cure, so those of us who experience it are left with the sober reality of its potential lurking influence in our daily lives. So, what do we do? As Christians we are taught to have faith and rely on God’s peace. While this is sound and powerful advice, we need to find ways to deeply rely on our faith and to transform God’s peace into a tool of growth and healing. One way to work on this is to observe the struggles of a biblical hero of faith and step-by-step identify with their struggle and their journey towards a more God-driven life.

High highs and really low lows

After Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal, he fell into despair. He was depressed. He had successfully demonstrated the supremacy of God as THE God, and yet Queen Jezebel promised to have him killed.

These events show us that even God’s mightiest servants can struggle deeply. As he ran and hid from Jezebel, he felt completely alone, ineffective and broken. His next journey showed us how feeling depressed can be overwhelming and lead us to

1. internalization,
2. isolation and
3. insulation.

Rather than rebuke him, God gently met Elijah with rest, food and a repeated touch through an angel.