🕊️ PRAY HERE DEVOTION 🕊️ Ministry Can Cause Depression

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4 (NIV)

“While he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, he came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’”

Devotion: As human beings, we have all experienced some form of burnout or depression. For some, it may have been such a small moment in time and of less importance that it was not even considered depression. While for many others, they not only remember their time of hopelessness, they barely made it out, and some unfortunately did not.

Because life comes with surprises and challenges, things not always going our way is inevitable. How we handle these things is vital.

Besides family pressures that can become overwhelming, financial hardship, not accomplishing life goals and feeling behind, feeling stuck in life and useless, feeling like you’ve made so many mistakes that you’ve declared yourself a failure. I could keep going.

Add to that caring for everyone else while nobody checks on you. Showing up strong publicly but crying privately. Smiling in front of people while feeling empty inside.

Lack of support from family and friends when in ministry is another heavy weight.

Witnessing, being a soul winner, or doing ministry in any capacity, big or small, can definitely bring you to some low places.

Defeat. Uselessness. Feeling mocked. Feeling misunderstood. Exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix.

Let’s look at Elijah. Many believers can relate to his low moment. After his tremendous victory over the prophets of Baal, instead of revival breaking out as he expected, his life was threatened.

How many times as believers have we obeyed God, done a good thing, but it yielded no immediate results or rewards? Instead, you became scrutinized, mocked, isolated, lonely, or ended up in what feels like a troubled situation.

That is frustrating. And it can absolutely cause depression ; just like it did Elijah.

In 1 Kings 19:4, Elijah was suicidal. He prayed to die and told God he had enough. Elijah was not weak ; he was human.

God understood and did not hold it against him.

Instead, the Lord sent an angel to feed him and told him to get up.

God did not shame him. God did not rebuke him harshly. God met his physical need first. Rest. Food. Then direction.

The Lord did not let him stay in that low place of suicide.

The key is that Elijah prayed. He talked to God honestly. He did not pretend to be strong. He told the truth about how he felt.

When we go to Him in truth, God can help us.

Elijah still had more work to do. He still had purpose. He still had someone to pour into. His low moment was not the end of his story.

Do not let the people who reject God, or the attacks, make you quit. These are bumps in the road ; not the end of your calling.

These moments are still far less than the victories in your walk.

If you are serving and silently suffering, God sees you. He will feed you. He will restore you. He will not let you die in the wilderness.

Be encouraged.

Prayer: Father, when ministry feels heavy and my heart feels tired, meet me like You met Elijah. Feed me. Restore me. Remind me of my purpose. Help me to be honest with You about how I feel and not carry silent burdens. Renew my strength and guard my mind from despair. I will not quit.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.