July 17, 2025
Even if you don’t suffer from depression, chances are you know someone who does, since experts estimate that as many as 40 million Americans battle this ailment. Next to pain, depression is one of the major ailments that sends patients to their primary care physician.
Allow me this disclaimer. I am well aware that depression is often a physiological condition. Not being a physician, I can't speak from that standpoint. However, as a pastor and believer with a background in theology, I can approach depression from a biblical/spiritual perspective.
That said, let’s examine an incident in the life of Elijah, taken from 1 Kings 19. This Old Testament prophet served during the ninth century B.C. in Israel's northern kingdom, during the reigns of Ahab and his son, Ahaziah.
At first, life was good for Elijah. God provided him with food during a severe drought. Later, spiritual awakening came to a people entangled in idol worship - miracles abounded! And yet, in the wake of this mighty victory on Mount Carmel over the prophets of Baal, Elijah soon fled for his life into the desert.
Why such a reversal? Physically, spiritually, and emotionally drained, Elijah succumbed to depression’s spell. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, avoid these traps that ensnare those in such a state.
The Fear Trap- Faith gave way to fear when Elijah discovered Jezebel wanted him dead. According to Edmund Burke, “No passion so effectively robs the mind of its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” “Fear, if allowed to reign,” said John M. Wilson, “would reduce us all to trembling shadows of men, for whom death could bring release.”
On the other hand, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). As has been said, “when fear knocks on the door, send fatih to answer and you’re not likely to find anyone there.”
The Enemy Trap- Elijah enjoyed victory over false prophets on Mount Carmel by keeping his focus on God. However, when threats from Jezebel ensued, his thoughts shifted to her.
Early in my ministry, I received an anonymous letter, severely criticizing my work at the church. Even though this incident was isolated and unwarranted, it threw me for a loop. Though obsessed at first with the letter, I never found out who sent it. I eventually put it behind me, having learned a valuable lesson - don’t let periodic detractors determine your outlook.
The Comparison Trap- We gain further insight into Elijah’s plight through his statement, “I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4 NASB). Rather than center his attention on God and the present, he fretfully measured himself against people from his past, thus aggravating and deteriorating his state of mind.
Comparing ourselves to others triggers trouble every time. There’s always going to be someone out there richer, younger, smarter, thinner, prettier, and more successful than you. Social media has made the situation much worse. Do you, stay in your lane, and watch God do marvelous things.
The Blame Trap- Elijah increased his misery by condemning himself for the failures of his people. Many often point the blame at others. This goes all the way back to the Garden, where Adam blamed Eve for eating forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:12).
As a pastor, I would sometimes blame myself when people left the church, when in fact, it was due to an entirely different reason. Take ownership but don’t take the blame unless there’s a good reason for it. And by all means, don’t get caught up in blaming others.
The Pity Trap- Elijah threw a pity party, at which he was the guest of honor. The problem was, no one else showed up. Justifying himself before the Lord, he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord… and I alone am left” (1 Kings 19:10).
Elijah was, in fact, among 7'000 prophets who remained, but who’s counting when you’re soaking in a warm tub of self pity?
I’ll have more to say next time by answering “Avoiding the Traps” with “Applying the Remedies.” For now, if you’ve fallen into one of these traps, know that God provides release. He loves you and has a place for you in His plan!
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
