There is a story in the Old Testament about a prophet named Elijah. Elijah’s job was to speak on God’s behalf to the people of Israel, a job that often made him unpopular in a time where traditional Jewish religion was very unpopular in ancient Israel. The day after Elijah experiences the most spectacular victory of his life, he leaves a party where God’s people are celebrating the end of a long drought and returning to their belief in God. Elijah is forced into hiding to escape assassins sent by Israel’s queen, Jezebel. It’s interesting to read the account because Elijah has run into the desert and given up. He lays down under a large shrub to escape the heat of the sun and he basically gives up. He has seen God do some pretty impressive things, now he tells God that he might as well be dead. He is so depressed that he doesn’t even eat of his own accord. God sends angels to feed him because he doesn’t have the personal energy to take care of his basic needs. He eventually resumes his escape, but then hides out in the mountains, still wallowing in discouragement and depression. Elijah isn’t the only Biblical figure who demonstrates a propensity toward depression or seasons of darkness. The book of Ecclesiastes is an entire book, written by King Solomon, all about his perception that life is meaningless. It drips of melancholy. The Psalms are full of examples songs of anguish and depression. Jesus even quotes one of these songs to express his anguish on the cross. One of the things I appreciate most about the Bible as a religious book is that the characters we meet aren’t perfect or happy all the time. They are real and deal with doubt, depression, and discouragement. Nearly 15 million Americans suffer from persistent, severe depression every year. I’ve talked to many folks who believe that this is a sign that there is something wrong with them or that depression is a sign of weakness to be ignored. These are misconceptions that are difficult to overcome. The reality is that depression is a real, medical issue that should be dealt with. Many folks attempt to deal with depression through counseling or medication, and both approaches can be very effective. In fact, seeing a doctor or a professional counselor are often indispensable for dealing with depression that resulting from past traumatic experiences or unhealthy relationships. In addition to seeing a professional, there are all sorts of simple changes that can positively impact depression. Daily exercise or time spent in the sun, setting daily, achievable goals then accomplishing them, increasing time spent engaging in activities you enjoy, learning to think differently about life by not focusing on negatives or comparing yourself to others, improving diet, talking with a trusted friend about emotional issues, learning to pray about feelings/worries, and other simple changes can dramatically impact depression. The biggest challenge is shifting from a place where you are experiencing depression to one where you are actively dealing with it. The reality is that the biggest challenge for overcoming depression is getting started. A common symptom of depression is a lack of energy or drive. This makes it hard to implement changes. Further, self doubt and fear or acknowledging the problem can make it hard to start the process of overcoming depression. Both are potent discouragements. However, neither is insurmountable. Getting over the initial hump is often the most difficult step in beating depression.
