God's Prescription for Depression

March 29, 2020 Speaker: Tara Detiveaux Series: Elijah

Topic: Depression Scripture: 1 Kings 19

God’s Prescription For Depression

It is so good to be with you through live stream today…though honestly, I rather this be in person. It is so good to be gathered, my prayer is that you would long for that. It is such a biblical way of living, to gather together and worship together. I hope and pray that you are missing that, longing for that, wanting that to happen again very soon.

Though I used to preach from my lawn mower when I was kid…to absolutely no one.

And we had 4 acers. So that was a lot of preaching.

And just to be honest my best sermons happen when no one is listening.

So, I have high hopes for today as we dive into God’s Prescription for Depression

1 Kings 19

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done

How to Get Depressed…wipe yourself out

And he had done a lot.

Physically for years drought, famine, raising a boy from the dead, killing prophets…

Spiritually he a done a lot, fought the kingdom of darkness in his country.

He was emotionally and mentally drained.

and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”3 Elijah was afraid[c] and ran for his life.

How to Get Depressed…focus on the negative

This. There is lot of negative. There is a lot of real negative. And it is real. Stats are real.

And that is what Elijah did.

The queen is after me.

She has threatened me.

He was not affected by it before, but now he is dwelling on it.

There is a difference between what is happening that is very real…

and dwelling on what is happening to where it consumes every part that is real…

 

To where you forget all of the previous victories

The battles that were won

The people that have overcome the virus

The good things that are happening during this time of quarantine

When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

How to Get Depressed…do life alone

Elijah shut people out

His closet friend thinking they don’t really understand

They are not really for me

I am the only one that has been through this (whatever this is)

Nobody really want to listen…I do, I want to listen, the family of God want to do life with you

4 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.”

How to Get Depressed…compare yourself to other people

This is so crazy, no one was even comparing him to his ancestors, but you can tell that this thought process has consumed Elijah’s mind because he said it out loud.

How much of our depression is because we compare ourselves to others?

They are doing quarantine better than I am doing quarantine.

Their kid’s chalk art looks better, they are going around the neighborhood doing a bear hunt…

They are still working, I am not.

I am not serving good enough, loving good enough, whatever they are doing I am not doing it good enough, and you sit down in depression because of comparison.

5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 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.

So, what is God’s prescription for depression?

1. Rest (and eat…not too much) and Exercise

 

God didn’t send down fire or brimstone. He didn’t scream you “Man of God” how could you. He sends an angel (and not even one of those scary angels that you are afraid of but a comforting angel) that gave him food and rest.

 

Rest.

 

Take this time and rest. I can’t even remember the last time that I have rested.

Even our vacations are never a rest. This a state mandated time of rest.

Take advantage of it. Calm you mind. Rest mentally. Emotionally.

Not everything needs to be done. You are never going to fix all the problems.

Enjoy sabbath rest. Yes, enjoy it. Sit there and rest.

It was mandated to us for a reason.

 

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his” Hebrews 4:9–10 NIV

Those who are struggling for God’s approval and trying to be righteous in their own strength need to rest in the finished work of Christ, realizing that God loves them unconditionally. Therefore, to keep the Sabbath day in modern times is to trust not in what we do for God, but in what He has done for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place. That does not mean that we should neglect setting aside time to remember God and to thank Him for all that He has done. In our modern society, where we work so hard for success, many just don’t have time in their busy schedules for spiritual things—until a crisis hits. A time of spiritual refreshing and renewal with the Lord should be a priority, not an occasional event.

7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

2. Draw Close to God

 

Most scholars agree this is the same place where God gave Moses the 10 commandments

Go to the place where God is.

Go to the place where God is.

Livestream your Church Service.

Livestream us every night at 7:00.

Be a part of our Zoom Bible Studies Wednesdays.

Wake up and spend time with him.

Read the scriptures.

Throw on Worship Music.

Fast on Mondays with us.

9 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?” 10 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.”

3. Allow God to Replace Your Lie With His Truth

 

-He had been zealous…TRUE

-The Israelites have rejected your covenant…TRUE

-They have torn down your altars…True

-They have put your prophets to death with the sword…TRUE

-I am the only one left…NOT TRUE

 

He wasn’t the only one left,

The scripture says there was 7000 that hadn’t bowed their knees.

7000. Seven Thousand.

 

You are not the only one quarantined (lies)…there are a couple of billion of people

This will never end (lies)…it’s just a season

There is no hope for my lost love one (lies)…God is working out Salvation

My marriage will never heal (lies)

My family will always be this way (lies)

My job will never come back (lies)

I have to live in depression and discouragement (lies)

 

And you find the truth as you rest and draw close to God

11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 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.”

There is always potential for the lies to come back

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5

15 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. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

4. Do something

Victory gardens, also called war gardens were vegetable fruit and herb gardens that were planted at private residences and public parks during World War I and II. Today we encourage you to follow the guidelines and “do what you do.” Do something. If you serve, serve. If you work with your hands find something to do with your hands. If you teach, find someone to teach. If your mother or grandmother do that. Do the things “restricted of course” and what is allowed.

Some of things we DO have been shut down, find something else that you DO. I am cooking. Its what I like to do. I am gonna have food for the next year for my family. I am gonna write sermon series. I really like. I am gonna call and talk to people. Take family bike rides. Fish.

More in Elijah

April 5, 2020

When This is Over...What Will Last?

March 22, 2020

How To Pray Powerful Prayers

March 15, 2020

God is in Control