How to Get Out of Depression — What Elijah Teaches Us

About this sermon

How Do You Get Out of Depression? In 1 Kings 19, we find one of the most surprising responses to depression in Scripture: God doesn't rebuke Elijah. He feeds him, lets him sleep, and asks him one simple question — "What are you doing here?" Depression isn't a sign of weak faith. It's something even God's most powerful prophet walked through, right after his greatest victory. "With depression, I can do anything to anyone." That's the line the enemy uses — and it's why depression is one of his favorite tools. In this message, Pastor Ed Young looks at the story of Elijah — a prophet who was on top of the world one day and praying to die under a broom tree the next — and traces three stages that take us from crushing it to being crushed: exaggeration, isolation, and victimization. Depression doesn't discriminate. It's circumstantial, physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual — and if the truth were told, all of us are either walking into it, walking through it, or walking out of it. And here's the good news: the same stages that take us down have a reverse. THE 3 STAGES OF DEPRESSION (AND HOW TO REVERSE THEM): 1. EXAGGERATION — Making the small things big and the big things small. One threat convinced Elijah — a man who'd just defeated 450 prophets single-handedly — that he was finished. "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life." 1 Kings 19:3 2. ISOLATION — Elijah left his best friend behind and went into the wilderness alone. We're built for community, not isolation — and depression lies best when nobody else is in the room. 3. VICTIMIZATION — "I'm the only one left." Elijah forgot the 7,000 faithful people God had already told him about. Playing the victim keeps us from taking responsibility for what's actually ours to carry. Pastor Ed shares how God met Elijah — not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in a gentle whisper — and what it means to reverse each stage: responsibility instead of victimization, community instead of isolation, and truth instead of exaggeration. If you're depressed, or you've walked through it, or you're walking out of it right now — you're in good company. Some of the greatest men and women in Scripture dealt with this. You're not alone, and you don't have to face it without help. If you've never given your life to Jesus Christ, there's no better time than today. Ask God to forgive your sins and walk through this life with you. He's waiting with open arms. If you're struggling with depression or having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now — call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), free and confidential, 24/7. — RESOURCES — ✝️ Daily devotionals from Ed Young: https://www.edyoung.com/devotionals ⛪ Join us at Fellowship Church in person or online: https://www.fellowshipchurch.com Now We Go To School | Pastor Ed Young, Fellowship Church How to Get Out of Depression — What Elijah Teaches Us #depression #elijah #fellowshipchurch

Topics

• Strength in Hard Times