It is unlikely that we can relate to Elijah calling down fire from heaven, but we can certainly relate to Elijah in becoming depressed and hiding away. Elijah had been on a high. He had defeated the prophets of Baal in a contest, the people were turning back to the Lord and the great drought had ended. Elijah had shown great spiritual courage. But under threat from Jezebel he collapses, runs away when Israel most needs his leadership and turns into a suicidal basket case! Why had there been this one hundred eighty degree change in Elijah’s life? The main reason was that Elijah had unrealistic expectations. Elijah expected that the dramatic victory on Mt. Carmel would result in Ahab’s and Jezebel’s repentance or judgment. When this didn’t happen, Elijah collapsed in despair.

Elijah’s collapse came when he was physically and emotionally exhausted. It is not hard to imagine the physical and emotional toll that the showdown on Mt. Carmel had exacted upon Elijah. For many days, Elijah’s life was constantly on the line. Even though God empowered his 18 mile run to Jezreel, he would have been physically exhausted. This exhaustion left him without any emotional reserves or resilience when Jezebel’s response disappointed his expectation that things were finally over.

What do you do if you find yourself or a friend in deep spiritual depression? In order to help, you need to know how God restores spiritually depressed people Notice how God restores Elijah and the order is vitally important.

1 – Take the initiative – See Psalm 103:13-14

Elijah may have been spiritually depressed but he was still seeking God. He was very slowly making his way to the Mountain of God. He took forty days to travel two hundred miles. For a marathon runner like Elijah that was very slow. You can help people to get there. God has always taken the initiative. He speaks to all mankind through creation so none have an excuse if they do not respond. See Romans 1:19-20. He shows His love for mankind through Jesus Christ and awaits a response. See Revelation 3:20.

2 – Be compassionate and wise

Had Elijah blown it by running away? Yes. Is his thinking and decision-making deeply flawed? Yes. Is this the time to blast him? No! He is so shattered at this point that he is unable to process correction or instruction. The compassionate and wise thing is to address Elijah’s most basic and immediate needs – rest and sleep. Now that he is physically and emotionally strengthened, Elijah arrives at the Mountain of God. We are to show the same compassion as God. See also 1 Peter 3:8 and Matthew 9:36.

3 – Help to process and reflect on things

Elijah goes to the same cave where God spoke to Moses. God begins to get at the root causes of Elijah’s depression; not by direct correction or instruction; but by asking him a question. When Elijah responds with a flawed answer, God doesn’t correct him immediately; He waits and then asks again. It is good to listen. Elijah gave God a sob story. That cave would be his school room and God would be his teacher. He learned a lot in that cave. We must realise that God is not in the business of destroying spiritual lives. God is in the business of reconstructing fallen, frail human beings. He’s there to help us.

4 – Correction by truth

The timing of correction by truth is very, very important. The ultimate reason for our spiritual depression is very often wrong and prideful thinking. The ultimate remedy is humbly receiving correction by the truth. God used a nature lesson to correct Elijah. He uses wind, earthquake and fire. God brings three awesome demonstrations of destructive power. We are told that God “was not in” them. God was in the quiet still voice. The lesson is that God advances His plans in ways that we cannot understand. God corrected Elijah’s wrong thinking by reminding him of two very important facts of which he had lost sight:-

• It is not all up to you – God has a very thorough and effective plan for Israel.
• You are not alone – God has many others who love and serve me.

Since this is the case, God is saying: “Now go back and play the role I’ve designed for you, trusting me to fulfil my plan in my own way and time”. Elijah listened and recovered and did just that. When we humbly receive God’s correction, His peace and hope gradually return, along with guidance and motivation to resume our roles in His service. It doesn’t matter how deep the cave is that you are currently in, God can draw you out of that cave if you will listen to His still small voice. It was not long afterward that God took Elijah to be with Him in Heaven in a fiery chariot. He went up through the sky and through the clouds! If God can translate a discouraged backslidden prophet He can do the same for us.

Categories: 1 Kings