Discouragement and depression. We face it often, no matter how marvelous our faithfulness to God. In fact, the Devil usually bombards us with it at a time when we should be greatly encouraged. It was so in the life of Elijah, right after he had with God"s help gained a tremendous victory over Baal and the false prophets, along came the attack that led to his depression. One of his greatest spiritual conflicts had just been won; yet, the Devil used a woman"s threat to greatly discourage his heart. Perhaps Elijah thought that such a victory would melt the heart of Jezebel, at least put within her a healthy fear of God"s power. It was not so. The Devil"s blindness is deep and binding. His servants have no wisdom, only an intense hatred for the things"and people"of God. Elijah found that out, and instead of resting on the power of God that he had just witnessed, he ran away in fear to pout.
Elijah became so depressed that he wished he were dead. There are several reasons for it. He was not taking care of himself physically. He was also sitting around doing nothing but wallowing in self-pity"the source of which, by the way, is an exaggerated idea of one"s importance and a demeaning idea of one"s value to God. In addition, he had ceased to listen to God and was "content" to sit around and complain and demand that God listen to him.
How does God want you to deal with your discouragement and depression? Take care of yourself physically. Sit still and listen for God to reveal His work that He has planned for you to do"and then do it. Realize that God is faithful and though He desires nothing more than to use you in His work, He can easily find someone else to do it, someone else to give the blessing to, while you sit in your cave and pout and suffer from Elijah-in-the-cave syndrome. He always has His 7000 who are not in any cave but faithfully serving Him. He wants it to be 7001. You are not alone. You have the omnipotent God on your side, why should you fear men? You have "7000" co-workers facing the same Baals and their arrogant, ungodly servants; and yet, they are not willing for a moment to dance to their tune, to bow their knees to them. So get up and get busy; listen to God"s still voice of direction; always abound in the work of the Lord. That"s a sure cure for discouragement and depression in the Lord"s ministry. And there"s an Elisha waiting in the wings; find him and disciple him in the things of God.
---Al Iten .....
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Depression
