Overcoming Depression Focusing on the Future God Has Planned For You.
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am in awe of your presence. Whatever is noble, right, pure, and lovely help me think on these things. Amen.
READ:
“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?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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.”
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. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet, I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
So, Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.
Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate.
Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant."
REFLECT:
If you, like Elijah, are suffering from pain and depression, know this: God cares deeply when you suffer. You may wonder where God is in this pain. What is his plan? Be assured, he is right there with you, just as he always was, is, and will continue to be. All might be slipping away, but God promises to fill us with hope.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) This was written specifically for the people of Israel that were in exile, but the promises God made to them are also made to us today.
Elijah, both literally and figuratively, stepped out in faith. He heard and followed God’s plan, and Elisha became part of Elijah’s hope. God had plans, and he was still going to use a runaway suicidal prophet!
APPLY:
How can we know the plan God has for us? And how can we confidently walk in it?
We, like Elijah, need to listen up. God will get our attention, and we need to listen for his voice. There may be many voices from many sources about what your purpose is, telling you that you have no value, giving their strong opinions, speaking lies. These voices can be deafening. Knowing the plans God has for you means listening to the One who has them. When you know your Creator and his voice, you can hear him above the noise. So, create room in your life for him, for prayer and Bible study. You need to hear God’s voice above the roar of the world. How can we know the plan God has for us? And how can we confidently walk in it?
We need to keep our head up. When God met Elijah at Mt. Horeb, he wanted him to focus on the future hope. When you are faced with overwhelming pain and depression, you will want to quit, put your head down, and run away. But this is the time to keep your head up, view your situation and step out in faith through prayer and supplication. Believe that God is up to something, being mindful of his faithfulness in your past. Look up for the smallest of opportunities and how God might change you.
We need to serve up. We want our lives to matter and make a difference. Serving others allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts, to experience miracles, to experience joy and peace from obedience, to be more like Jesus, to surround ourselves with others who can help us follow Jesus, to increase our faith. Serving others is good for our soul, mind, and body as it can ease symptoms of stress and depression. If you offer yourself in any kind of service to others, you’re letting that person know that you see them, you value them, and you want to bless them. No matter our condition or circumstance, God has created us to serve others.
Listen up, heads up, serve up…God plans on it.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God, my hope, and my future is in you. Your mercies are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Amen.
CONTINUED READING:
Jeremiah 29:11
WORSHIP: