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Overcoming Depression: Lessons from Elijah's Life

Explore the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 to understand the common causes and treatments of depression. Discover how loss, addiction, trauma, and sin can lead to depression, and learn from Elijah's struggles and journey back to serving the Lord. Follow a chiastic structure breakdown of the key events in 1 Kings 19 and Elijah's case study to see how God's intervention helped him overcome depression. Gain valuable insights on dealing with depression as Christians today, emphasizing the importance of focusing on facts, avoiding comparisons, reframing perspectives, and seeking a renewed relationship with the Lord.

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Overcoming Depression: Lessons from Elijah's Life

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  1. Dealing with Depression Lessons from the Life of Elijah (1 Kings 19)

  2. Depression • Depression is common (Prov. 12:25) • Symptoms of depression range from mild (sadness, grief, discouragement) to severe (clinical depression)

  3. Depression • Three common causes: 1) major life change; 2) negative thinking; 3) chemical imbalance • Two common treatments: 1) medicine (antidepressants); 2) counseling (secular, biblical)

  4. Depression • Loss (death, job, financial, love, health) • Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography) • Trauma or stress • Sin and guilt

  5. Depression • Job (3:1) • Jeremiah (20:14ff) • Psalmist (6:1-7)

  6. Structure of 1 Kings 17-21 1 Kings 18 High point 1 Kings 21 High point 1 Kings 17 Low point 1 Kings 19 Low point

  7. Chiastic Structure in 1 Kings 19 A) Leaves his ministry (v. 1-4) B) Renewal begins (19:5-9a) C) Question and response (19:9b-10) D) Go and stand (19:11a) E) The Lord’s presence (19:11-12) D1) Go and stand (19:13a) C1) Question and response (19:13b-14) B1) Renewal complete (19:15-18) A1) Returns to his ministry (19:19-21)

  8. Elijah: A Case Study • Experienced trauma and focused on it (v.1-2) • Isolated himself from others (v. 3-4, 9; comp. with 17:2, 8; 18:1) • Depressed and desired death (v.4)

  9. Elijah: A Case Study • Thought he failed (v.4) • Physically hungry and exhausted (v.5-8) • Forty days later, he still felt isolated and focused more on self (v.10, 14; note the use of “I” and “me” here) … tonight’s theme: God is bigger than me alone

  10. Elijah: A Case Study What God did not do… • Rebuke or condemn him • Order him to “snap out of it” • Ignore or minimize his pain • Threaten to leave him • Assist him in ending his life

  11. Elijah: A Case Study Elijah needed… • A period of physical refreshment (v. 5-8) • A question of accountability (v. 9, 13) • A God to talk to (v. 9-10)

  12. Elijah: A Case Study Elijah needed… • A fresh awareness of God; a refocusing (v. 11-14) • A new direction and activity (v. 15-17) • A reality check (v. 18; see Rom. 11:4)

  13. Elijah: A Case Study Elijah needed… • A new relationship helping (mentoring) others (v.19-21) • An adjustment to his physical, cognitive, and social needs

  14. Elijah and Christians Today • What are we to do when depressed? Remember, Elijah is “a man of like passions with us” (Jas. 5:17) • Focus on facts, not feelings • Don’t compare yourself with others

  15. Elijah and Christians Today • Don’t accept false blame • Don’t exaggerate the negative • Get a new perspective on life, get active again, return to serving the Lord

  16. Elijah and Christians Today • Be open to the Lord’s (re)call; Elijah was made to go back to his former attitude of 17:2 – “before whom I stand”

  17. Elijah and Christians Today • “Life” is a key theme in this chapter (v.2, 4, 10, 14) • Elijah finished strong (1 K. 21:17ff; 2 K. 1:3; 2:11; Mal. 4:5; [Lk. 1:17]; Mt. 17:3; Lk. 4:25-26; Rom. 11:2-4; Jas. 5:17)

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