In 1 Kings 18-19, we are told of one of God’s prophets that faced trouble and depression. Once you hear a bit of his story, you’ll see why. During the time of the prophet Elijah, there was a severe famine and drought in Samaria. The Lord told Elijah to go to King Ahab (a bad king whose wife, Jezebel, killed many of God’s people). When Elijah did what God asked, then God would send the much-needed rain.

Now, Ahab and Jezebel were already looking for Elijah so they could kill him, just as they had done with so many others. Still, Elijah obeyed God and went to Ahab. He confronted Ahab, “You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.” (18:18).

After this confrontation, Elijah met Ahab’s prophets at Mount Carmel for a contest of sorts. He told them to prepare a sacrificed animal, but not set it on fire yet. Elijah did the same. Elijah proposed that whoever’s God answered their prayer and set the sacrifice on fire, was the one true God.

Ahab’s prophets prayed for hours and nothing happened.

When it was Elijah’s turn, he had people pour water all over his animal sacrifice to make it impossible to burn (remember: drought, famine). But God sent fire from the sky that burned up the sacrifice, the stones, the soil, and the water! Seeing which deity was the true God, many in the crowd gave their lives back to the Lord.

As you can imagine, this didn’t please Ahab or Jezebel. They sent a message warning Elijah that they were going to kill him. So, Elijah ran for his life. Again.

He was afraid, discouraged, and worn out. He fell down and prayed that he would die, saying, “I have had enough, Lord, take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (19:4).

It never ends. Have you ever felt like that?

Have you ever experienced an ongoing sense of emptiness, feeling sad or brokenhearted, down, discouraged, lonely, or worthless and angry? These aren’t just moments from time to time, but constant companions. There’s a still small voice in the back of your head that tells you that you can’t do this, that no one cares, that you’ll never accomplish what you set out to do, and that God cannot love such a messed-up sinner like you. It can be debilitating, and it sucks the life right out of you. Weariness and pain are burdens you carry daily and no matter how much you try, no matter how much positive thinking you throw at it, the burden can’t be shaken.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the U.S. For some, it can be so severe and pervasive that it impacts their ability to do simple daily tasks (shower, pay bills, take their kids to school, go out with a friend, get out of bed, go to work, do the dishes). For others, the experience is milder, comparatively, but still impacts us in areas of social, occupational, physical, spiritual, and emotional ways that are difficult to navigate. The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) reports that nearly 20% of young adults will experience a major depressive episode. But thankfully, nearly 61% of adults have sought out and are receiving effective treatment according to an NIMH survey in 2021. That’s good news!

If a person has experienced at least 5 of the symptoms of depression for more than two weeks, then mental health practitioners refer to the experience as a major depressive episode. Symptoms include things like:

• having a depressed or sad mood (in children or adolescents this can include irritability)
• losing interest and pleasure in things that used to bring satisfaction (hobbies, exercise, work accomplishments, time with family / friends)
• significant weight or appetite changes (increase or decrease)
• impaired sleep (too much or too little)
• other people notice a change in the way the person acts or carries themselves
• fatigue and / or low energy
• decreased ability to complete tasks well
• a sense of worthlessness or inappropriate / excessive guilt
• inability to concentrate or make decisions
• having repeated thoughts of death or dying (suicidal thinking or attempts).

Take a moment to imagine how Elijah might have felt and the stress he had endured while running for his life. He was so discouraged and so tired that he just wanted to die!

Don’t skip over these words, friends.

We are not alone in feeling this way during tough circumstances. If you are a person who values God’s word, hear the whole story. God’s prophet had a life that was a mess, he was scared and wanted to give up.

In his exhaustion, he fell asleep. When he woke up, an angel gave him bread and water, and encouraged him to sleep a bit more, then get up and eat and drink again. After he did this, God met with him through a gentle whisper (19:11-12).

Sometimes we need this same kind of reset. Eat. Drink. Sleep. And meet with God. Seek him. Listen to him.

God cares about you. He cares when his people face discouragement and depression and hopelessness. He doesn’t want that for us. In fact, he wants us to live full lives, connected with him (read John 10:10). Depression doesn’t have to be a lifelong experience.

Consider the following things you can do if you’re feeling down:

1. Take care of yourself physically

The angel gave Elijah bread and water and instructed him to sleep, several times. When we’re worn out and physically weak, we are likely to experience signs of depression. Proper nutrition (vitamins D3, B complex, and omega 3’s are great!) and 7-9 hours of sleep daily makes a big difference. When we are tired, we don’t think clearly like we do when we are well-rested. In addition, some people experience great relief when they are on medication for depression.

2. Take care of yourself emotionally

Elijah prayed about his concerns. Talk with a godly friend or counselor. Stay connected with people who will encourage and support you, don’t isolate yourself. Sometimes we need to talk through our concerns, check-in with friends, seek advice, and ask for help.

3. Take care of yourself spiritually

Sometimes we need to be reminded to shift our focus back to God. Connecting with a local church face-to-face is God’s design for how you can do this. Show up. Talk with the pastor. Meet a few people. Try out a small group. Doing this can help you get to know the benefits of spiritual connection as you allow the church to provide care. These verses also encourage us in our relationship with God:

• Romans 12:2
• Colossians 3:2
• Isaiah 26:3
• 1 Corinthians 10:13
• Philippians 4:8
• Matthew 6:33
• Psalm 23:1-6

Hold yourself accountable to your self-talk the way you might hold a friend accountable to their words.

4. Implement a healthy lifestyle

We see evidence that certain lifestyle choices have a positive impact. A few of these include:

• following a routine each day
• intentionally scheduling things that you look forward to (a movie, coffee with a friend, a day trip, a new book you’ve been wanting, etc.)
• volunteering and serving others (church ministries, animal shelter, taking dinner to a friend / neighbor, walking someone’s dog who can’t get out), and
• exercising for 25-30 minutes each day or an hour 2-3 days each week.

When someone is depressed, it can be hard to do nearly anything. I would encourage you to start with 1-2 things that you think would make the biggest difference to you. Part of it entails figuring out what you might be doing that is keeping you stuck. For example, if you are isolating yourself, it’s probably good for one of your things to be scheduling a few coffee dates or attending a small group at church. Be consistent, and when you are able add one more thing.

If a person is facing thoughts of suicide, it’s important to get professional help. Depression is treatable. You can call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the number is 988) or chat online at www.988lifeline.org. You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Elijah’s experience shows us that even in our darkest moments, God is present. When you’re overwhelmed by depression, remember that God isn’t distant—he’s right there, ready to give you rest, to strengthen you, and to meet you in the quiet moments. You are never beyond his care or compassion. No matter how heavy life feels, God’s love is greater. And he has a purpose for you. Don’t lose hope. Take small steps forward, knowing that the same God who revived Elijah is with you, offering healing, peace, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

Which of the four steps seems most helpful to you? Text your answer to 833-515-7078.

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Adrian Baney has worked in the field of mental health for over 20 years. Her undergraduate work was completed at Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, minoring in both business and sociology. She completed a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. Her professional experience includes working with court-ordered patients, foster children, threat assessment, college mental health, intensive in-home treatment, supervision, and as training instructor. She is currently serving in private practice. Outside of work, she enjoys reading (fantasy, sci-fi, rom-com), being outdoors, walking, and adventuring.