Read 1 Kings 19:3-4
“Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.’”
Discover
1. What are Elijah’s overriding feelings in these verses?
2. What are his physical circumstances – who is he with and where is he?
3. What does Elijah do with all of his feelings?
Respond
When experiencing feelings of grief and depression, we have three choices in how we respond: repress it, suppress it, or express it. How do you typically respond to feelings of grief and depression? Has repression and suppression led to feelings of anger or even numbness? Even if your pain and grief are uncomfortable, spend some time being honest with God now. God wants a relationship with you, and because of that, He wants your honest, raw, real prayers.
For Further Learning: Ten-minute interview with a sufferer of depression
*For more practical resources related to this week’s readings, visit tpcc.org/depression.
**TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.
For Families with Kids at Home
When and if your children experience sadness or overwhelming sorrow, it can be tempting as a parent to feel guilty and/or minimize it, but depression is not abnormal. Here's an article on how to talk with your child who might be depressed. For counseling resources, visit tpcc.org/care.