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Dealing with Depression

Dealing with Depression. Lessons from the Life of Elijah (1 Kings 19). Depression. Depression is common (Prov. 12:25) Symptoms of depression range from mild (sadness, grief, discouragement) to severe (clinical depression). Depression.

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Dealing with Depression

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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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