God Encourages the Discouraged: Back in the Mainstream – John Goh

The depressed often sit around in isolation, wrapped up in themselves and wallow in self-pity. How do we encourage them to get back in the mainstream of life? In the last 3 parts we have learned how to minister to their physical needs, their emotional needs and provide them with fresh new perspective. Let us see how God encourages the prophet Elijah in this final part.

1 King 19:15-18 says,

[15] And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. [17] And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. [18] Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (ESV)

God had allowed Elijah to sit in dark cave long enough. It is time for Elijah to get back to work again. So, God sent Elijah out again because there was a new King of Israel and a new prophet to be anointed. God wanted Elijah to get back in the mainstream of life working for God and His Kingdom.

When the depressed are ready, encourage them to get back in the mainstream of life. Encourage them to attend church service or life group again. Encourage them to join their friends for lunch or for games like badminton, futsal or squash. Any activity that will get them out of the house (dark cave) and into the community.

Sometimes, the best way to encourage the depressed to stop feeling sorry for themselves is to start feeling compassion for somebody else. A great psychiatrist, Dr Karl Menninger, was once asked if a person is heading for a nervous breakdown, what should he do? Many would expect the answer to be, “See a psychiatrist!”. Dr Menninger’s reply was, “Go straight to the front door, turn the knob, cross the tracks and find somebody who needs you.”

Therefore, we should also encourage those who are coming out of depression to help out with other people who are depressed or mentor another person who has gone through similar events in their lives. If you continue to read 1 Kings 19:19-21, Elijah found Elisha and groomed him to be the next prophet.

[19] So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. [20] And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [21] And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. (ESV)

This concludes the series on how God encourages the discouraged. 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! 

Leave a Reply