Text: I Kings 19: 1-18

Introduction

- What is depression?

• Feeling worthless.
• The person become pessimist.
• The person feels rejection.
• The person feels self pity.
• It affects all people, from children to adults.

- Why the depression?

• Parents’ rejection.
• Critical parents.
• Feeling of hostility.
• Hostility against situations and against persons.
• A traumatic experience. Divorce. Loss of a loved one.

- Signs of depression.

• Sadness.
• Lost of the interest at work and leisure.
• Constant irritation.
• Expressions for guilt, failure, despair.

- Physical Signs of depression.

• Insomnia.
• Fatigue without effort.
• Complaints about aches and pains.
• Lack of appetite.

- Analyzing the experience of Elijah:

1. Had fear. (at times not knowing of what) verse 3.

2. Escape reality (fantasy) verse 3.

3. He wanted to stay alone (in the desert) verse 4

4. He asks to die (gross despair) verse 4.

5. He wants to sleep (is refuge) verse 5.

6. Does not want to eat (loss of the appetite) verse 5.

7. Has a crisis of self pity. Pity of himself ( "I stayed alone"). verse 10.

Writer Tim LaHaye created "Equation of the Depression"

* I Suffer injury or I am rejected + Rage x self pity = depression.

- I Kings 19:9

- Elijah wanted the sympathy of others. God wanted to give him work.

- The best therapy is to serve. Our example, Jesus.

- Steps to defeat depression:

1. Speak with a capable counselor. Someone who you trusted.

2. Do physical exercises. Leave the 4 walls.

3. Cut all bitterness. Situations with his parents, friends, persons, boss.

Hebrew 12:5 Depression is a trial that always is initiated with bitterness.

Illustration: "If the garbage collector does not pass, the trash accumulates"

4. Walk in the Spirit. It is not to same as accepting Jesus.

Galatians 5:25 / Ephesians 5:18. Walk in the dependence of the power of God.

- What God desires from us?

That you and I, we be happy. John 10:10 "For that you have life, and life with abundance".

- An invitation: If you still does not have Jesus, surrender your life to him now.

(Source: Pastor and Psychologist Tim LaHaye)