8 And he arose, and did eat and
drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights
unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And
he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the Lord came to him, and he said
unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?...11 And
he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord…
–I Kings 19:8, 9, 11 (KJV)
Depression and anxiety are conditions which
can rob us of our peace and joy in Christ. I know from personal
experience the challenges of overcoming depression and the difficulty
associated with this condition. Countless people struggle in silence
with these illnesses in the hope that the situation will somehow improve.
I am discovering more and more how depression and anxiety are common
among church leaders as well as the general population. If you
are struggling with these issues yourself take heart, for you are not
alone. The Lord is with you and will help you to rise up and go
forward. Do not delay in getting treatment. Medication,
counseling, and therapy are viable means of overcoming the insidious
consequences of depression and anxiety. Also, add to this prayer,
daily time in God’s Word, and firm faith in God.
Remember many of the saints of the Bible
also battled depression and anxiety issues. These giants of the
faith struggled just like us with the challenges of day-to-day life
in difficult times. One such person was Elijah of the Old Testament.
Following a great victory over the false prophets of Baal, Elijah heard
the wicked queen Jezebel had vowed to kill him. He then fled into
the wilderness and at one point lay down and begged God to take his
life. A short time later, Elijah hid in cave and lapsed into a
period of dark despair and fretfulness. Does this sound familiar?
Perhaps you have hidden in a similar cave of despair and wondered if
there was any hope.
God came to Elijah with a gentle call to
come out of the cave and stand on the mountain. Once he did this,
Elijah experienced the gentle whisper of God’s presence. He
was then empowered to continue living life and serving the Lord.
The same can happen to us. Let me share with you three truths
about recovery from depression and anxiety. Recovery requires
the following:
- Time. No one was ever delivered from depression overnight. It’s going to take time to overcome these issues.
- Commitment. Realize that overcoming depression is a process involving many years. Develop a plan for overcoming and stick with it. Delve anew into a routine of prayer, daily time in God’s Word, and worship. Also, develop a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise.
- Determination. You will suffer setbacks and this is normal. Do not give up on living life to the fullest, for it is within your grasp – with God’s help.
Jesus calls us to the abundant life in Him.
Take hold of Christ, for He will not let us go or ever let us down.
God bless you today.
