God’s Cure For Depression (Facing The Fear Of Depression)

Facing Fear Part 2

God’s Cure for Depression (Facing the fear of Depression)

1 Kings 19:1-14;18

Introduction

Last week we began a series titled “Facing Fear”, last week we learned about the fear of uncertainty, and we learned how to live certain in uncertain times, we learned that first of all we needed to expect times of uncertainty, because from scripture we were promised that those days would come. We also learned that we needed to trust Jesus in the midst of those uncertain days, and that they were only temporary, because as followers of Christ we are on our way to a much more secure home with no uncertainty.

Today we learn about another fear that plague so many in day to day life, and that fear is depression, today from scripture we will learn God’s cure for depression, and to do that we will take a look at a time in the life of the prophet Elijah.

We will pick up the events in Chapter 19 of 1st Kings, but before we read that portion, I need to fill you in on what took place prior to that point. Elijah had just finished experiencing one of the greatest displays of God’s power ever recorded in scripture.

Elijah ordered the 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah, they came together on Mount Carmel, which the false god worshipers were to set up an altar and place a bull on it, and then call upon the names of there gods to respond by fire, then Elijah would do the same, and Elijah said which ever God responds by fire then HE is GOD.

Continue the story.

Now as we come to chapter nine-teen, we see that Jezebel the wife of the evil King Ahab order the death of Elijah, so Elijah is afraid and runs, and as we read you will notice that he really slips into a serious time of depression and loneliness, if you have ever experienced anything like that you will pick up on that as we read this passage, but from this passage I want us to learn God’s cure for Depression, and learn how to face it head on.

Read Scriptures: 1 Kings 19:1-14,18

I. Depression often comes after dealing with trying circumstances.

Vs. 1-3 “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”

Trying circumstances often is the open door for depression. Those trying circumstances might be the death of a loved one, it might be a serious illness that you are enduring, it might be a strenuous marriage, it might be dealing with serious family issues, it might be the loss of a job, whatever those trying circumstances are, it is often the open door for depression.

For Elijah it was the news that Jezebel was going to have him murdered, and I am sure if any of us received news that there was a hit out on us, that may be an open door for depression for our lives as well.

I remember in the days and weeks after burying my brother after he committed suicide, I remember really fighting a depression that wanted to take over my life, and the things that I did, is what God has outlined for us in this passage for his cure for depression.

II. Prayer is Vital during periods of Depression.

Vs. 4 “while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, 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”

When we have those periods of depression we have a tendency to want to close ourselves in and not speak to anyone, not even to God, at least in any meaningful prayer time.

God shows us in this passage that when we slip into these periods of depression talking to God about what we are going through is vital if we are going to make it though these rough times.

Notice Elijah’s prayer was a very honest one, but it was prayer none the less.

III. Honesty before God about your feelings is Vital during periods of Depression.

Vs. 4 “while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, 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”