Depressed people often feel like they are alone and everyone has abandoned them. They will harp on the same negative events in their lives over and over again instead of the positive ones. In general, they reward themselves too little, punish themselves too much and are hard on themselves. The Prophet Elijah felt the same way in 1 Kings 19. He felt that God has forsaken him and left him alone until a point that he wanted God to take his life.
After God ministered to Elijah’s physical and emotional needs, God gave Elijah a fresh new perspective. Let us look at 1 Kings 19:11-13,
[11] And He said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (ESV)
God knew what the depressed and discouraged Elijah needed was an encounter with Him but not in a way that Elijah would expect. In the Old Testament, wind, lightning and earthquakes often associate with God’s presence but this time God appeared to Elijah in a low gentle whisper. God was telling Elijah that even when He was silent, that did not mean that He was absent. When Elijah realized that God had never abandoned him, he immediately humbled himself when he wrapped his face in his cloak.
After helping the depressed with their physical and emotional needs, encourage them to seek a fresh new perspective. Sit down with the depressed and explore alternatives together so they know that they are not alone. Help them to see the problem from a different angle. Ask them if they have alternatives. Give them suggestions only when they ask.
A brother came to me and told me that he had financial problems because he lost his job before the MCO. Banks were constantly harassing him for credit card payments. He applied for many jobs but was rejected, even at the application stage. He felt so depressed and alone. Upon learning more about the jobs he applied to, I realized that he was only applying for jobs that he wanted, his dream job, not jobs that he can do. He thought the only way for him to recover financially was to get that dream job. I suggested that he should widen his job application to include those that pay less than what he was asking. I gave him a fresh new perspective. A week later, he got an interview and got the job on the spot. A least now he is making ends meet and the bank harassment stopped. As the Chinese saying goes, “Ride a cow while looking for a horse.” This means accepting something lesser while looking for something greater.
As our nation is slowly recovering from the economic hardship caused by the pandemic, those who are jobless are still struggling financially to find jobs. Some are still hoping that they can get a good job with a high pay and live the lives they had before the MCO. When that did not happen, they fall into depression. As Christians, we must reach out to these people. Walk with them as we walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
If you would like to know more on how you can care for the depressed, you can contact Elder Arnold Lim or myself through the church office. FBC Family Life Ministry is recruiting. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few.
Blessed week ahead!