Depression

If the enemy can upset you, he will.
If he can separate you, manipulate you, or depress you—he will.
Any way he can get in—he will.

 1 Peter 5:8
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

A lion doesn’t roar just for noise—He roars to show dominance, to send fear, and to announce his next kill.

Today, we’re still looking at Elijah.
Yes—Elijah, the victorious prophet…
But here, we begin to see Elijah as the running prophet.

1 Kings 19:1-3 (a)
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,
“So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba . . .

Let’s break this down:

• Ahab, one of the most evil kings in Israel’s history, essentially hands over the throne to Jezebel.
• Jezebel—furious, vengeful, spiritually toxic—goes into full attack mode when she hears what Elijah did.
• Elijah, the same man who had just called down fire from heaven, runs.

Let’s be real here—what Elijah went through?
I’ve been there.
And maybe you have too.

This next part—I want to explain through something I know well: sound.
I used to install sound systems, and one thing I always did when training someone was this:
I taught them how to create feedback—that awful, high-pitched squeal—and how to produce a hum in the system.
Why?
Because those two things—feedback and hum—are every sound tech’s worst nightmare.

But here’s the thing...
By showing them what causes the problem,
I could then teach them how to prevent it.
They learned what not to do, by first knowing what to do—and it worked.

1 Kings 19:3-4(a)
 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness,

Elijah took off running—hard.
He ran all the way to the southern tip of Judah, nearly 100 miles—alone, exhausted, and overwhelmed. He wore himself out.

Let’s be honest:
Some of you are Elijah... or Jonah... in the making.

?‍? Moms:
Working jobs, raising kids, juggling the house, PTA, soccer practice, dinner on the table—no pause button.
?‍? Youth:
School, study, part-time job, dating, sports, school clubs, and exams on top of it all.
?‍? Dads:
Working one, maybe two jobs—providing, managing, leading—carrying more than anyone sees.

 1 Kings 19:3(b)-4

“He left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness…”

What did Elijah do?
He went off alone.
This mighty man of God—fresh off a spiritual high—isolates himself.
And that’s exactly what many of us do when we’re overwhelmed.

Depressed people often push people away.
We say things like:

• "I’m fine."
• "I’ve got this."
  
• "I just need some time."
• "All is good. I’m strong."

But in reality, we’re pulling away.
We stop answering calls.
We stay home.
We check out.
We isolate—completely.

And the enemy loves isolation.
Because when you're alone, you’re easier to discourage.
When you're alone, you're easier to deceive.
And when you're alone, you're easier to devour.

1 Kings 19:4
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Elijah is worn out, he's isolated, and now—he’s done.

“It is enough!”

He’s not just tired—he’s suicidal.
This prophet who just called down fire from heaven is now ready to give up.

Notice something important:
Elijah is still talking to God…
but he’s not listening to God.
He’s locked into the negativity.
He’s exaggerating the moment.
He’s spiraling.

• “I’m no better than my fathers.”
• “I’m done.”
• “This is impossible.”
• “There’s no way out.”

Sound familiar?
We go there too:

• “I’ll never get out of this.”
• “I’ll always be stuck.”
• “No one understands.”
• “God isn’t even listening.”

Elijah had done what so many of us do in moments of fear, burnout, and isolation—
He forgot who was in control.

Let’s rewind the tape—look at what Elijah had already been through:

• He stood before King Ahab and boldly declared:
  “There will be no rain.”
• God protected him—sent him to hide by the Kerith Ravine,
  where He fed him with ravens and provided water from a brook.
• When the brook dried up, God moved him again—this time to a widow,
  and through Elijah, miracles happened.
  Her oil and flour never ran out.
• Then her son dies—and Elijah cries out to God.
  God raises the boy back to life.
• Then comes the ultimate showdown on Mount Carmel:
  850 prophets of Baal and Asherah versus one man of God.
  The fire falls. God shows up—BIG.

? Elijah saw God’s power.
? He experienced God’s provision.
? He was part of miracle after miracle.

But then...
one threat from Jezebel...
and it’s like a hum in the system, a squeal of fear and panic.
Suddenly, Elijah forgets everything God had done.

Elijah was done—physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained.
And what did God do?
Let’s notice what He didn’t do:

• God didn’t preach at him.
• He didn’t rebuke him.
• He didn’t say, “Come on, pull it together!”
• He didn’t judge him.

Instead, God showed Elijah the "how"—
how to get through the darkest valley.

1 Kings 19:5(b)-6
suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is...
? Eat and rest.
Not overthink.
Not over-spiritualize.
Just stop, breathe, refuel, and recover.

Story from Pigeon Forge:
Ginger’s soaking in the hot tub, I'm on the couch reading, and we ate!
We rested. We enjoyed a moment of peace. That’s not laziness—that’s God’s rhythm for healing.

Matthew 4:11 – After Jesus’ battle with the enemy:

“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Even Jesus, fully God and fully human, needed to rest and be nourished.
He didn’t rush off to preach the Sermon on the Mount—He rested first.

And think about this—
God gave us the Sabbath for a reason.
But we’ve packed it with errands, shopping, sports, and noise.
I remember when J.C. Penney was closed on Sunday!
No wonder we’re tired.
No wonder we’re overwhelmed.
No wonder we’re battling depression.

? We’ve got to learn to decompress—physically, emotionally, spiritually.
God isn’t just trying to fix Elijah's mindset—He’s rebuilding his body and soul.
And He’ll do the same for you.

ALSO NOTICE THIS…
1 Kings 19:7-8
7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
 
That’s 200 miles—to Mount Horeb—
the same place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
This wasn’t just a physical journey— it was a spiritual reset.
God wasn’t just saying,

“Get up.”
He was saying,
“Get back to where you hear Me.”

1 Kings 19:9-10
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Let’s break it down.
Elijah speaks truth in some areas:

• He has been zealous for God.
• The children of Israel have forsaken God.
• The prophets of God have been killed.

But then...
He believes a lie.

• “I alone am left. They seek to take my life.”
  FALSE.

In our depression, we can do the same thing. We can start by acknowledging truth, but then one lie slips in, and suddenly, everything feels like it’s falling apart.
Here are a few lies we might believe:

• “I do all the work.”
• “I’m the only one who cares.”
• “I have all the responsibility.”
• “It’s all on me, me, me.”

Elijah said, “I am the only one left.”
But Elijah didn’t know the whole story.

1 Kings 19:18
18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

7000 people were still faithful to God! Elijah was NOT alone—he just couldn’t see it in his moment of despair.

When we’re feeling overwhelmed and isolated, we might believe the lie that we're alone.
But God’s truth is:

• You are never alone.
• God is with you.
• He has people around you.
• He’s working when you can’t see it.

Here’s how we respond to the lies:

• My marriage will never make it?
  “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
• My kids will never come to Christ?
  “God can move mountains.” (Matthew 17:20)
• I won’t have enough for my rent?
  “God will supply all our needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

2 Corinthians 10:5
 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1 Kings 19:11-12
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Let’s break this down—
The wind tore through the mountains.
The earthquake shook the ground.
The fire blazed intensely.
But the Lord was not in any of these dramatic events.
Where was God?
He was in the still small voice.

Sometimes when we are at our lowest, God speaks the softest.
I call this the ‘NUDGE’.
It’s not always in the thunderous moments of life, but in the quiet nudging of His Spirit.

Philippians 4:7
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Picture this:
You're standing outside someone’s house, and there's a tornado tearing through the neighborhood—trees bending, shingles flying, sky dark and swirling.
You run up to the porch, bang on the door, and shout over the wind:
“Hey! Can I talk to you about Jesus?”
They crack the door open, eyes wide, hair flying everywhere:
“Are you serious right now?! IT’S A TORNADO!!”

And that’s the point:
No one is looking for a Bible study in the middle of a natural disaster.
No one’s ministering in the tornado—they’re hiding, ducking for cover, trying to survive.

God knows that.
He doesn’t come shouting over the storm.
He waits until things settle...
Until we’re ready to listen.

God says:

1. Rest - Take time to be still.
2. Eat - Nourish yourself physically and spiritually.
3. Capture the Lies - Turn every lie the enemy tries to whisper into God’s truth.
4. Listen to His Voice - Wait in the calm. God's voice often comes when we stop chasing after the storm and simply wait.

1 Kings 19:15-16
15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

God says: GO BACK!
Elijah had run away…
Now God says:
? Go back.
? Anoint kings.
? Raise up the next prophet.
Get back to doing what prophets do!

 When you feel...

• Lost
• Helpless
• Drained
• Like your confidence is gone

Get back to doing what God called you to do!

• Mom? Go love and lead those babies.
• Doctor? Go bring healing.
• Farmer? Get back in that field.
• Prayer warrior? Get back in the prayer room!
• Christian?
  Do what Christians do:
  → Worship God
  → Pray boldly
  → Seek His presence
  → Share His love
  → Serve others
  → Be a light in the dark

Charles Stanley once said:

“In my deepest, darkest point in life—I never lost the desire to win souls.”

That’s what God does.
He doesn’t just restore your strength—He reignites your purpose.

God doesn’t just fix the broken.
He builds up the future.
After all the fear... all the running... all the doubt...
God puts someone in Elijah’s life—
someone who would believe in him, walk with him, and one day carry on the work.
His name? Elisha

2 Kings 9:9(b)-11
Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Two men in Scripture never faced a physical death:

1. Enoch
2. Elijah

Let that sink in…
The man who was terrified of dying, whose greatest fear was that Jezebel would kill him...
Never died.


For many of us… your greatest fear?

You may never even experience it.

And even if you do—and that’s a big “if”…You won’t face it alone.

John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Whatever you fear…
Whatever is holding you back from becoming who God called you to be…
God has already overcome it.

Be an Elijah.
Not perfect.
Not fearless.
But faithful.
A man of God.
A man of truth.