I was struggling with depression yesterday, so I reported this fact to my sponsors this morning.  One of my 12-step sponsors asked me a great question about depression this morning.  “Although when the time the Bible was written, depression may have not have been a term that was used. What is the general overview of the Bible regarding depression? What is their guidance?”

It is true, as far as I can tell, that the Bible does not mention depression, at least as we would understand that word.  However, there is a story in the Old Testament that may speak to the issue of depression.  It is the story of Elijah.  Elijah was a prophet who spoke to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of corruption and apostasy from the LORD, the God of Israel.  There was a great deal of idolatrous worship and social injustice.  The rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.  Violence was the norm.  There was a veneer of religiosity, but no substance.  Any similarity with modern America is strictly accidental.

God, through the prophet Elijah, confronted Israel with its sin.  For some not-so-strange reason, Israel didn’t like thinking that they were to blame for a terrible drought that had wrecked the economy, and was costing people their lives.  So, there were those in high positions—especially King Ahab and Queen Jezebel—who wanted Elijah dead.  After all, Elijah was the one who had announced the drought, so he must be to blame.  Right?

Queen Jezebel decided to get rid of this thorn in everybody’s side.  She could have put him to death, but there might be a popular outcry.  After all, some people in Israel did regard Elijah as a real prophet.  So, instead of putting out a contract on Elijah, Queen Jezebel made a threat to have him killed.  It would perhaps be better if he ran for his life, than for her to take his life.

It worked like a charm.  Here is the story, as recorded in 1 Kings 19:

“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them [i.e., like the false prophets that Elijah had killed] by this time tomorrow.”

Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.

And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”

And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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.

And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.

Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.

And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

(1 Kings 19:1-21, English Standard Version)

While the words “depressed” or “depression” do not occur in this story, it seems to me that Elijah was, in fact, depressed.

And what did God do to help Elijah?  Several things, actually.

1. God let Elijah run,
2. God made sure that Elijah got a bunch of rest.
3. God made sure that Elijah ate.
4. God asked Elijah a very simple question: “What are you doing here?”  (Elijah’s response was not so much an answer as a dodge.  “I’m the only righteous person left in Israel, and they are trying to kill me.”)
5. God confronted Elijah with his addiction to the dramatic.  (God sent strong wind, an intense earthquake, and fire, but was not in those things.)
6. God spoke to Elijah, not through the dramatic, but by means of the quiet.
7. God asked Elijah the same question that God had already asked: “What are you doing here Elijah?”  Unfortunately, Elijah gave God the same lame (non)answer.
8. God reminded Elijah that God still had work for Elijah to do, and that Elijah needed to get on with it.
9. God informed Elijah that there were several thousand in Israel who had remained faithful.  Elijah was not as alone as he felt.
10. God gave Elijah an assistant and understudy—Elisha.

Of course, this is a story.  It is not a prescription.  Often, those of us who are Christians, are reminded “not to base doctrines on stories.”  Probably, we should be wary of basing emotional and mental healing on stories as well.

However, I find some good healing hints in this story.  Exercise.  Eat regular meals.  Rest.  Let God ask some difficult questions—over and over, if need be.  You still have work to do.  Do it!  Remember that you are not alone.  Get a companion to help you.

I have struggled with depression since I was nine years old.  I didn’t even know what to call it, until years later.  And I probably don’t need to tell you, dear reader, that this is a very stressful time we are living in right now.  We will all probably have days when we struggle with depression.  On these days, and likely in all of our days, we need to remind ourselves and one another to exercise and rest, and eat, and all of these other things that this story might suggest.  Depression will attack us all at times like these, but there is still hope.  There are some simple things that can help—if you do them.

I’m going to paraphrase an acronym that I heard many years ago.  It was part of a joke that I heard.  A pastor was beginning his ministry at his very first church.  He was, quite understandably, very nervous as he was about to preach his first sermon.  When he looked at his notes, he discovered that his wife had added the word “KISS” at the top of his notes.  He looked out at the congregation, and smiled at his wife.  She smiled back.  Her thoughtful note helped him to relax, and he did fine.

After the sermon and greeting his parishioners, he said to his wife, “Thanks for the kiss!  It really helped me to relax a bit.”

“That’s nice honey.  You did realize it was an acronym, didn’t you?”

“Uh . . .,” the young pastor hesitated.  “It was?”

“Yes,” said it his wife.  It stood for.

Keep

It

Simple

Sweetheart!

So, I say unto thee, keep it simple, sweethearts!  Maybe you’ll get out of the pits after all!