While planting my first church I experienced the worst
depression of my life. It seemed as though I had worked so hard with such
minimal results. I felt like a terrible failure.
At meals I hardly spoke and stared blankly. I was too
embarrassed to share my feelings. I suffered silently, miserably and alone.
Sadly, I even doubted God’s love and His Word. This caused
me to question whether I should be a pastor. My negative doubts and thoughts
threw me into a tailspin of confusion and despair.
Since then I have learned to manage life and discouragements
better.
1. Develop Trustworthy Friendships
Though highly revered, James
5:17a says, “Elijah was a man just like
us.”
Like us, Elijah suffered
with depression.
When discouraged, God
wanted Elijah to engage with people and not isolate.
God had Elijah train Elisha as his successor and he became his close friend.
“The Lord said to him,
‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get
there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over
Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as
prophet.” (1 Kings 19:15-16)
One breakthrough for me came when I confided in three
trustworthy friends. They were helpful, and listened compassionately.
A skilled professional counselor can become a great
confidant and advisor also.
2. Get Proper Nutrition, Rest and Exercise
Elijah was exhausted and that fed his depression. So God provided
rest and nutrition.
“Then he lay down
under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get
up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked
over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up
and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank.”
(1 Kings 19:5-8a)
Don’t overlook the
importance of caring for your body in order to manage your emotions.
3. Give Your Problems
to God
Elijah gave his problems to God: “And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here,
Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The
Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your
prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are
trying to kill me too.’” (1 Kings 19:9b-10)
Elijah thought all the Israelites had rejected God. But 7,000
remained who were faithful.
Talk with God. Unload
your burdens and gain His perspective.
When my mother died suddenly at age 69, I mourned her loss
deeply. I was angry and confused by her relatively young passing and I shared
my feelings with God. I honestly complained that she died too young.
My open and straightforward dialog with God helped keep me
from depression.
I did not curse, threaten,
abandon or insult God. But I shared my problems and emotions.
Instead of hindering
my relationship with God, my grief became the catalyst for drawing me closer to
Him.
If you doubt that we can be honest about our emotions with
God, just read the Psalms—such as Psalm 69 and 88.
4. Listen to God’s
Gentle Whisper
“The Lord said, ‘Go
out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is
about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and
shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After
the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after
the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over
his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to
him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Elijah heard God’s
gentle whisper and was led out of depression.
Phillip Keller wrote in his autobiography about his half-hearted
commitment to the Lord. Determined to hear from God, like Elijah, he went to a
mountaintop. He paced for hours, with arms raised, crying out for God to fill
him.
God whispered that submission,
not emotion was required.
Phillip wholly committed his
life to the Lord. This sacred interlude between man and God’s Spirit left him
radiant!
Questions:
What has helped you climb out of a pit of depression? How have you found hope
in God? Please share your thoughts below.
Special Crisis
Information:
1. National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
