SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah 4:3 Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers of the nineteenth century. He also struggled with depression. Spurgeon believed that depression was a common experience for most believers: “Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy.” Depression is prolonged sadness and can be debilitating. Today’s passage describes an instance so severe that Elijah begged God to take his life. Several factors seem to have contributed to this emotional crisis. Elijah had confronted King Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16–40). He had also spent time in concentrated prayer, after which he ran 25 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel. When his life was threatened by Queen Jezebel, Elijah traveled another hundred miles to Beersheba, where he left his servant. He then went another day’s journey into the wilderness, sat under a large shrub known as broom bush. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Instead of granting the prophet’s request, the Lord sent an angel who prescribed a regimen of rest and food before Elijah undertook the next stage of his journey, a forty-day trip to Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai). This was the spot where the Lord appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–2). The angel seemed to know that this was Elijah’s intent. The Lord’s question in verse 13 is further evidence that Elijah was acting on his own and not under orders. The Lord dealt compassionately with Elijah and did not rebuke him. Instead, He gave the prophet further directions to let him know that he was not alone. Apply the Word You do not need to be ashamed if you are struggling with depression. Seek help from someone today. Talk to your pastor or ask for a reference to a reputable Christian counselor. If you would like to explore the subject further, try reading the book Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Eerdmans).
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 10:06:50 +0000