Overcoming Depression by Starting With Your Physical Needs.
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, you have said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Today please fill my physical needs, as you fill me with your word. Amen.
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush 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 some 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 said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So, he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:1-8 (NIV
REFLECT:
Here we read Elijah’s life had become caught in a state of extreme confusion and turmoil. In the past, he had been bold and decisive, but he is now fearful and distressed. Utterly discouraged, Elijah fled to the wilderness where he asked God to let him die.
Elijah is tired, emotionally impacted, exhausted…alone, without provisions, and suicidal. Here the enemy sees a vulnerability that he hopes to take full advantage of as Elijah prays for the Lord to take his life. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t always answer prayers the way we want him to!
God did not rebuke or chastise Elijah as one might expect. Instead, the Lord ministered to Elijah’s physical needs. Sometimes the most spiritual thing one can do is get enough rest and replenishment. The Lord was gracious and allowed the prophet time to restore his physical strength.
APPLY:
If you have ever had similar thoughts or feelings as Elijah, know that you are not alone in such depression. God approached Elijah, as he approaches each of us, with thoughtful tenderness and wonderful wisdom. Here God used an angel to gently touch Elijah and see that he needed food and water to sustain his physical needs and then supplied what he needed. Managing our physical needs is important, so that we have the renewed and refreshed mind and body capacity for what will be needed in our recovery. God knows exactly where you are and what you need, and he is ready and willing to meet you there.
In the process of my undergraduate education, I was introduced to the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His original theory is a five-tiered model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. From the bottom upwards, the needs are: physiological (food, drink, sleep), safety (security, freedom from fear), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization. Needs lowest in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up. Maslow’s theory adopted a holistic approach to education and learning. Applications of the theory to the work of a classroom teacher are obvious. Before a student’s cognitive needs can be met, they must first fulfill their basic physiological needs. Tired, hungry, and scared students will find it difficult to focus on learning; just as tired, hungry, and scared prophets will find it difficult to focus on God’s plan.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear God, stop me from running away - running away from you. Help me remember that I can always run to you for every need, no matter how basic. You never change, and I can trust in you to meet every need. Amen
CONTINUED READING:
Psalm 103:13-14, Mark 6:30-32
WORSHIP: