Elijah’s Depression

Elijah suffered so much. He faithfully spoke God’s Word to Ahab, warning of the drought to come because of Ahab’s unfaithfulness. (I Kings 17:1) Elijah had witnessed the nation he loved fall deeper and deeper away from the God who is faithful to every promise. And then he saw his countrymen suffer as the drought worsened. God provided a widow to take care of Elijah. God used miracles to provide for Elijah and the widow’s family.

And then Elijah cried out in despair when the widow’s son died. “Have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” (I Kings 17:20)

And do you see God’s response?

He doesn’t yell at Elijah for not trusting him.

He doesn’t command Elijah to just get over it.

He doesn’t tell Elijah to cheer up.

And then Elijah experiences his greatest victory. After three and a half years of exile, he returns to prove that the God he served was indeed real. The people join him after the great victory at Mount Carmel. (I Kings 18:16-46) Rain finally falls from what had been a barren sky. And just like that, Jezebel vows revenge. Elijah runs. And there in the desert, Elijah prays,

I have had enough… Take my life.

1 Kings 19:4

God doesn’t yell at Elijah. God doesn’t command him to get his act together.

God equips him with food and water for the journey ahead.

Elijah travels for forty days. This is not the action of a Christian who has it all together. This is a action of a man who struggles with depression. I don’t blame him, either. Elijah knew how broken the world was. He felt alone. And as many people who struggle with depression do, he retreated from the world.

And do you notice that God allows him to?

God gave Elijah room in his despair.

God gives him more than a month so that Elijah can be alone.

God never commands Elijah to smile or to buck up.

He never promises that everything will turn out all right, or that it’s all ok.

In the end, God does tell Elijah that he is not alone, and then gives Elijah some new marching orders. Those marching orders include a command that shows that Elijah won’t be the last prophet: Elisha will follow him. (I Kings 19:16) God doesn’t give shallow comfort. He allows Elijah to struggle with his depression. He allows his prophet time to heal.

If you struggle with depression, take comfort in how God treated Elijah. Take time to take care of yourself so that you can care for those around you. Don’t fake the smile. If you need to spend time alone to be healthy, then spend time alone. This is necessary time for you. God gave the fifth commandment to protect your body, too.

And notice this, as well: The prophet that we identify most easily as depressed is the same prophet that God chose to take directly to heaven. (2 Kings 2)

Your depression does not lock you out of heaven.

Your depression may tell you that you must earn God’s love.

Your depression may tell you that you are not loved.

Your depression lies.

Jesus himself chose to come to earth to save you. Not just the rest of the world. Not just the people around you. You. No, you are not worthy of such love. Neither are the people who don’t have depression. So what? This is how we know what love is: Not that we love God, but that he loves us and gave himself up for us. (Romans 5:8) For you.