Elijah

Read 1 Kings 18-19

Even the great men of God in the Bible went through depressions. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah asks God to take his own life. He had been discouraged because the Israelites had killed God's prophets and he was the only one left. But God wasn't anywhere near done with Elijah. God had plans for Elijah to anoint a new king over Israel and anoint a new prophet to succeed him.

God doesn't want us sitting in isolation, feeling sorry for ourselves. He lets us have a pity party for only so long. He wants us to get up and get back in the mainstream of life working for Him and His kingdom! Elijah whipped his depression and went on to a lifetime of useful service.

Dr. Karl Menninger, a psychiatrist, was asked, "Suppose you think you're heading for a nervous breakdown, what should you do?" His reply was, "Go straight to the front door, turn the knob, cross the tracks, and find somebody who needs you." The best way to quit feeling sorry for ourselves is to start feeling compassion for somebody else!

- Hannah Thomas