After all this, the last thing we would expect is for Elijah to fall into depression, but he did. And he allowed himself to spiral down into despair to the point of desiring his death. And then we continue on in verse 4.
I am sure there was a lot of emotion in him at that point and a lot of despair. Elijah's situation reveals several problems that can bring us down too, so we should be forewarned. What were Elijah's four significant problems causing his discouragement and depression?
1. He presumed the outcome. Elijah assumed that everyone would repent, but things did not go as he expected. And we can easily relate to that. I am sure everyone has looked forward to something, thinking we have everything planned out, only to have things suddenly change. We know how disheartening it can be, especially if it is something important to us.
The lesson is that we must guard against unrealistic expectations by remembering that God is sovereign. We must never presume to know His perfect will.
2. The second significant problem in Elijah's life here, he focused on the problem. In the wilderness, at the widow's house, and on Mount Carmel, Elijah emphasized the power and greatness of God. But Jezebel's murderous threats consumed him and overwhelmed his faith. In his panic, he focused on the enemy's power to destroy him rather than on the power of God to deliver him.
3. He focused on himself. These are so simple, but really eye-opening if you just stop to think about them. He focused on himself. Elijah was in the depths of self-pity when he said in verse 4, I am no better than my fathers! Elijah's focus had shifted from God to his circumstances and then from his circumstances to himself.
4. He was physically exhausted. Another reason we give in to depression is exhaustion. By the time Elijah arrived at Sinai, he was weak from fatigue. He was so weak that he just did not want to live anymore.
These four main problems that affected his reasoning are familiar to us at times of stress. Nevertheless, our loving Father recorded a remedy to alleviate Elijah's spiritual depression so that we too can apply it in our lives.
Now for the remedy for Elijah's discouragement and depression. The remedy has four elements that God provided for Elijah.
The first one, again, very simple: get some rest. I Kings 19, continuing on in verse 5.
