by A CURE FOR DEPRESSION
Elijah was a depressed man who was running away from his shadow (1 kings 19:4-8). We often do this when faced with challenges beyond our control. Like Elijah, we feel restless and cumbersome (v. 5), with no appetite even to eat, and when we manage to eat, we feel like going to bed again (v.6). We feel hopeless and helpless and find it difficult to do our normal duties, especially when no one is bothering about us (v.7). In fact, Elijah felt like committing suicide and he said, “It is enough, Oh Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (v.4). His cure for depression only came as soon as he “arose and ate and drank and worked on the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God” (v. 8).
In this journey of life, depression can happen to anybody. Sometimes, things can be so frustrating that we feel like killing ourselves. Be careful! You are not alone in your struggles. You are neither the first nor last to go down the drain in this journey. I have often maintained a philosophy that can be summarised in my favourite slogan: “Life goes on!” Life must go on in spite of our many challenges. Believe it that you are not alone in your problem or difficulty. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, yes! and to us all, God offers a dose of remedies to cure our depressions. His lively words of encouragement in the scriptures are there as food to encourage us. There, he assures us that if we eat his body and drink his blood like Elijah did, we shall regain our strength.
For the past several weeks, God has been assuring us of this truth, so why not give it a trial.To cure our restlessness, God offers us a step by step procedure of walking-along with him: First, learn to depend everyday on his word, never cease to fellowship with others, always walk in love just as Christ himself did (Eph.4:30-5:2). Our problem often is not our inability to follow these paths but our tendency to always grumble and doubt if indeed it’s true that these things can give us true happiness (John 6:41-51). Remember, it’s God’s promise, not man’s. Doubt no longer, my friend. Instead, like Elijah, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you” (I kings 19:7).
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent, or the organization the author works for.
