You Are Not Aloneናሙና

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in Scripture. Along with Moses, Elijah was one of the two Old Testament figures that met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. He did important work for the Lord. Ironically, depression can follow times of great success. Even those who faithfully serve God can become depressed to the point of wanting to die.

Elijah’s story begins in 1 Kings 18, where he played a critical role in God’s defeat of the prophets of Baal, with Elijah killing all 400 of Baal’s prophets. After this defeat, the evil queen, Jezebel, began hunting for Elijah so that she might kill him. Elijah ran to Beersheba, left his servant, and continued into the wilderness to hide from Jezebel. 1 Kings19:4 reveals Elijah’s depression, “And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Elijah’s request of death appears to be in contradiction with the victory over the prophets of Baal. Unlike Job, who lost his children, possessions, and health in one day, Elijah was coming off the heels of a substantial victory over the false god Baal. Times of great success, even in ministry, can be followed by crushing depression. Consider the prophet Jonah, who, in Jonah 3, delivered the message of salvation, which saved the city of Nineveh. However, Jonah 4:1-3 shows Jonah’s depression when he wished to die after the Lord relented and spared Nineveh. Many preachers, including Charles Spurgeon, routinely experience depression after delivering God’s Word to his people. Perhaps this is what Elijah experienced.

Did the emotional high of the overwhelming defeat of the prophets of Baal lead to the crash of depression so severe as to include suicidal ideation as Jezebel hunted him? Or was he afraid for his life? Ultimately, we do not know. What we do know is that Elijah wanted to die. Whether or not there is a justifiable reason for him to feel this way is irrelevant. Many of those who are depressed find no logical explanation for their depression. The fact is that Elijah, one of the two most important prophets in the Old Testament, struggled with depression to the point of wishing he was dead. You are not alone. Elijah was there, too.

If you are considering hurting yourself, please seek help. Contact your pastor or your physician. Call the national suicide hotline at 988. Help is available for you. You are not alone.