Why Was Elijah Depressed? A Warning To Pastors

1 Kings 19

I'm preaching on Elijah's depression this week. Here's just some thoughts to chew over...

Someone in the government was trying to murder him (19:2-3). Ever have someone trying to murder you for years at a stretch? I never have, and I hope I never do. This is a little worse than just having the deacon board mad at you over something. Elijah's emotional fiber was stretched to the limit, he had spent long months alone near a spring, hiding out from the government, and he snapped.

He was (partly) driven by perfectionistic aspiration (19:4). I was raised by a selfish, unfaithful father. I vowed to be nothing like him. But, spiritually and emotionally speaking, it wasn't enough for me to grow up by the vow, "I won't be anything like my dad." It's like a vortex. The fear of slipping down into parity with my father can eat at you. It's not an energizing motivation. It's driven by contempt and fear. You can't go through life haunted by the fear that you will fail, and be no better than your ancestors. You're already no better than your ancestors, when measured against the incomparable perfections of God. Might as well accept it, and take joy in the justice of your own justification through Christ's blood. Go ahead and sin boldly, Phillip, then repent boldly, too, because the righteousness that saves us is entirely extrernal to us (Luther).

He wasn physically weakened (19:5-8). He fled in mad haste, and then stimbled out into the desert on a doomsday mission The Lord fed and watered him with miracle cake. God worked a miracle, to re-energize Elijah's body.

He was completely overpowered by feelings of isolation, injustice, and hopelessness (9-10). He felt like the lead in The Omega Man. He had been cruelly persecuted, even though he was the good guy in the story. The nation had gone to hell in a handbasket, his friends had been murdered, and he felt he was the only believer left. He was mistaken about that last part, by the way. God saved that bit for verse 18.

He misunderstood the power of God. I think this is the meaning of the events at the cave (the shattering wind, raging fire, and rolling earthquake, followed by a soft, gentle blowing). It's that little voice of the Spirit who turns people around -- not nature miracles. The nature miracles have their place, an important place. But they don't have any power to turn back the sinful heart.

How many people in the ministry are spiritually depressed because they...

1. Are being persecuted?
2. Are perfectionists?
3. Are not feeling physically strong and healthy?
4. Are oppressed by the viciousness of people?
5. Feel alone?
6. Are frustrated by the failure of their own God-given gifts?