Disheartened

2/17/2020

1 Kings 19:5 “Arise and eat.”

 In 1 Kings 19 it tells us that Elijah had reached the end of his rope. He was afraid, tired, and depressed. The Israelites had turned from God’s covenant and killed all of the prophets except him. Life had beaten Elijah down to the point where he was ready to give up. He even asked God to take his life. After that prayer, he fell asleep; sleep is always a mental and emotional escape when you are depressed, that is for sure. An angel touched him, told him to get up, and to eat and drink the food and water that was provided. He did this and then fell back to sleep. Sometimes, when you are depressed, all you can manage to do is sleep and eat a bit.

When I was at my lowest point, I also had to be encouraged to eat and drink, although I did that very little. I was just at the point of being utterly drained. I didn’t care about much of anything, all I knew is that I was trapped in this dark place with seemingly no escape. When you reach that place, even the most common action becomes too much. Chambers says, “Depression is apt to turn us away from the ordinary commonplace things of God’s creation, but whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural simple things - the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there.” I know that certainly was true for me when I started coming out of the darkness. I held onto the littlest glimmer of God in every situation. He was there always, of course, but my vision and hearing were dimmed because of my fear and sadness.

After Elijah was awaken by the angel and told to eat and drink, he began to regain his strength.  He got up and traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God, and hid in a cave.  The word of the Lord came to him, then he left the cave and stood upon the mountain waiting for God. And as he stood, a great wind came and tore the mountain apart, shattering the rocks, then an earthquake and fire came, but God’s voice was not in any of those. Afterwards, a gentle whisper came, and Elijah heard the Lord. I know that during my time of darkness, I was waiting for the booming voice of God, but it came in a whisper to me as well. Do not lose heart, dear one, during those times when you feel alone, but listen for the whisper of God, for He is always there. Our Lord just wants us to take the initiative, to do one small thing at a time, and He will give us strength through the Holy Spirit.