Overcoming Depression by Focusing on God’s View of Your Situation.
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for today. Take away any distractions and help me see clearly what you would have me see.
There he went into a cave and spent the night.
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, 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, “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.” 1 Kings 19:9-18 (NIV)
REFLECT:
This is not the situation that Elijah thought he would be in. Elijah had just gone against all odds in defeating the enemy at Mt. Carmel. Victory was claimed. God was avenged. Life made sense. He had done everything he was supposed to do. Yet, instead of rejoicing in the turning back to God of the Israelites, he ran for his life alone and depressed in the wilderness. Interestingly, he ran back to his roots, to a remembered past. He ran toward Mt. Horeb – to Mt. Sinai. Perhaps Elijah wanted to go back to a time and place where things had made more sense, where he could recapture some sanity in his life.
Here God asks Elijah why he is there, in fact the Lord asks twice. After a great wind, an earthquake, and fire, the Lord showed up in a whisper. It’s as if God was explaining to Elijah that he had shown up for Moses in such a demanding powerful presence as wind, earthquake, and fire, but that was a moment in the past. Perhaps he was showing Elijah that he doesn’t live in the past, but that he lives in the Promise. The Lord had come in a gentle whisper with work for Elijah yet to accomplish.
APPLY:
This passage illustrates how God can capture our attention and help us focus on ways to view our situation to help us overcome depression or any other obstacle we may be facing in our lives.
Focus on God’s power, not the size of the problem. God is much larger than any wilderness you may run into or any threat that follows you. Look at God. When you focus on the greatness of God and his power, you can begin to see your problem from the right perspective and gain confidence knowing that God’s got it in his hands. Your God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing your God cannot do.
Trust in God’s plan, even if it doesn’t make sense. From a human perspective, God’s plan may seem unconventional, but you can count on God to deliver on his promise to bring all things together to accomplish good purposes. His plan is in your best interest. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize God working in your life in all situations. Be committed to matters of eternal importance and get ready for joy!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, you are in my midst, a mighty one who saves. You rejoice over me with gladness, and you quiet me with your love. You sing over me…what joy fills my heart. Amen.
CONTINUED READING:
Lamentations 3:19-26, Psalm 143:8
WORSHIP: