Triggers to Spiritual Depression

In a recent sermon I spoke to the issue regarding spiritual depression based upon a passage in I Kings 18-19.  Elijah experienced spiritual depression along with David, Jeremiah, and Paul just to name a few.

As I studied the downside of Elijah's ministry after defeating the prophets of Baal, I saw 4 factors that contributed to his spiritual depression.

The first was spiritual, emotional, and physical exhaustion.  Elijah had just had a euphoric moment on Mount Carmel defeating the prophets of Baal and seeing the people of Israel declare that there is only one true God.  Elijah then spends himself in fervent prayer for rain followed by a 20 mile marathon down the hill to Jezreel.  Exhaustion from draining times in life whether good or bad can trigger spiritual depression.

Secondly Elijah had to deal with the threat of Queen Jezebel.  Even though Elijah defeated 400 prophets he found Jezebel's threat too much for him.  When we are in a place of criticism and rejection it is easy to find ourselves quickly spiraling downward.  Especially those of us in leadership find this to be a given.  There will always be critics in our lives but accompanied with exhaustion it can be dangerous.

Thirdly the chapter tells us that Elijah became afraid and ran.  Fear is terribly debilitating.  There are so many things to fear in our lives if we allow ourselves to go there.  Whether it be health, economic, relational, domestic, or foreign fears, it is easy to find ourselves worrying just about anything.

Finally Elijah did something he ought not to do.  He separated from his aide and went off into the desert by himself.  Isolation can be deadly.  Alone in the spiral of fear, threats, and weariness can be ever so dangerous.  It gives satan the opportunity to play with our minds without external input.

So are your experiencing these in your life?  My next blog will give you the help you need to overcome spiritual depression.   God became Elijah's therapist.

Until next time.  Hang in there.

TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS

Most of us live under too many expectations.  Especially those of us in leadership.  All of our followers put various demands upon our lives which can reek havoc with our emotional and spiritual health.  How so?

If we are not careful we can allow everybody else's expectations to shape our identity.  It is so easy to become performance driven when we allow everybody else to determine our agenda. When that happens we can lose our authenticity.  We just become actors on the stage of life.  Before long we forget how God has actually wired us to be.

Unfortunately I have seen this happen to too many pastors.  After years and years of meeting expectations that they are not wired to meet, they become burned out and ineffective.   So instead of finishing well in their sweet spot they are busy compensating for their weaknesses.

So what is the answer?

1.  Take time to revisit your God-given strengths and weaknesses, to reestablish your identity.
2.  Begin setting appropriate boundaries that co-inside with your strengths and weaknesses.
3.  Learn to release and empower those who are gifted around you to meet those expectations that are
     not in your sweet spot.  Too many leaders are control freaks.
4.  Consider leaving your position to another who maybe has the gifts and energy to better meet the
     expectations.  ( I realize that there are some positions we can't leave.  ie. husband, wife, father etc.)
5.  Find time to recharge your batteries.  Get off the merry-go-round long enough to rest and evaluate.
     Leadership is demanding and requires intentional rest.