If ever a man had the reason to be stripped of joy, it was Andrei on a Friday when most working men and women sigh with relief “It’s the weekend again!”.
A bitter-sweet day of sitting, pacing, fidgeting, and waiting to be put on a transplant list after several weary months of being poked, prodded and stuffed with sauerkraut to lose the weight necessary to make the cut on that list to second-chance-to-life.
Andrei’s heart jolted as he heard his name after a long wait in the hallway.
“Mr. Chobanu, your vena porte is too frail for such a surgery. We can’t afford wasting a liver on you. You should go home and spend your last few weeks with your family.” The cutting news took his breath away…
I’ll get back to my father’s story in a bit…
C. S. Lewis wrote once “I had always been more anxious to avoid suffering than to achieve delight.”
Wouldn’t we all? Isn’t avoiding suffering the very definition of joy for most people?
How are you my friend? Are you zapped of joy, drained of strength, or the energy to persevere as you face problem-filled life?
You’re not alone. I’ve been there too. And so did Elijah, a great man of prayer.
Elijah is a big deal in both the Old and New Testament, a prophet with a rich story. (Read 1 Kings 17-19)
People regarded Elijah so highly that they assumed Jesus was Elijah (the one who was taken up by God in a chariot of fire). Even Jesus’ brother mentions him as an example when he states “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b NIV
Elijah was so on fire for the Lord.
Yet, this strong man of prayer runs away and hides under a broom bush depressed and suicidal. “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life… while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ ” 1 Kings 19:3a, 4 NIV
What lead to Elijah’s breakdown?
“He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ ” 1 Kings 19:10 NIV
Elijah had invested himself completely in God’s work, but was discouraged by the results.
Elijah had confronted many dangerous people, but did it alone.
Elijah had his life under constant threat (Ahab, Jezebel, Baal’s prophets), and became weary.
Have you zealously invested yourself into parenting, marriage, ministry, friendship, church, or business… and now you’re discouraged about the results? Maybe it’s something else, but be encouraged that you’re not alone, even great godly people can hit bottom.
How did God respond to Elijah’s breakdown?
God charged his physical batteries.
“Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.‘ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.” 1 Kings 19:5-6 NIV
Just like a phone, in order for it to work, it first needs to have its battery charged. God, our Creator knew that, so he took care of Elijah’s physical needs first (without even talking to him). How did Elijah get strengthened? Elijah slept. Elijah got up. Elijah ate and drank. He did that twice. Just like Elijah we need to be well rested, well fed, well hydrated, and up and moving.
God moved Elijah away from the broom bush.
“… Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:8b
Physically strong enough, God moved him away from his sulking place. Since, coming out of depression can take time, Elijah moved from under the broom bush into a cave… kind of like moving from the bedroom to the couch. Don’t lose hope my friend, recovering from depression is a process. But, keep moving, don’t stay stuck.
God spoke to Elijah.
“There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ ” 1 Kings 19:9 NIV
Read your Bible even if it’s only out of duty and not delight. That’s how God will speak to us today. God could have revealed His presence to Elijah through “a powerful wind”, “an earthquake”, or “fire”… in big and mysterious ways. Yet, God revealed Himself to Elijah in “a gentle whisper”. (1 Kings 19:11-12)
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Elijah spoke to God.
“He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ ” 1 Kings 19:10 NIV
Elijah knows what’s at the root of his depression, and tells it to God openly. Do you know what’s at the root of your problem? Is it physical? Is it past trauma? Is it spiritual?
A few years ago I hit depression for a few months. Very quickly I realized that it was the result of side-effects from a medication a doctor had prescribed. As soon as I stopped it, I saw huge progress. I prayed and begged Jesus to get me out of that pit.
As I heard Priscilla Shirer say “Prayer should not be our last resort, but our first response.”
As you struggle, are you begging the Lord for help “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV
God brought people around Elijah.
“The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.” 1 Kings 19:15 NIV
God brought a team of people to help with God’s work. These were people of authority, with leadership skills.
Can you lighten your burden by adding people that can support you, can mentor you, can pray for you, can work-their-hearts alongside you? Pray about this. Elijah told God that it was too much for him to be alone, and God answered.
What are my action steps to my own breakdown?
Improve you sleep, your eating, your hydration, your moving outside the house.
Do not neglect reading and understanding the Bible (not a Devotional book, but the actual Word of God). Only God’s Word is going to change our “stinken’ thinking” (as a counselor put it).
Pray on your own. Also ask others to pray for you. Don’t keep your depression to yourself. Inform others. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b NIV
Never lose hope. God will sustain you and give you victory, so that you can help another person going through depression. “… and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
… Back to my father’s story.
The cutting news took his breath away as his life flashed before his eyes. He had one regret “I have not done enough for the Lord.” Two days later, on a Sunday morning, Andrei went to an Italian church to inquire of renting their space to start up a Romanian-Moldovan church. The terrible news petrified him, but did not paralyse Andrei. Strengthened by the Lord, he got up like Elijah and a Romanian-speaking church is still alive and growing in Tuscany Italy. (Unlike Elijah, he was not taken up by a chariot of fire. Instead, God allowed him to have a liver transplant only a few weeks later. God is the only explanation for that. He is now actively involved in the Republic of Moldova, investing himself zealously for the Lord.)