Their Problems And Ours

Their Problems And Ours

Introduction

Depression is very common. It is probably the most common human problem. We may all experience it at some time in our lives. However, th Ie Bible does not leave us without help. This is a great comgfort to us at a time like this.

Many great men in Old Testament (OT) I times knew this awful feeling. They felt miserable and depressed. Things affect some people very much. Depression is a danger for them at some time in their lives. Depression is part of a psychological process. It would be a serious matter if this process were not there. It would mean that we would lose much in life. We would lose a sense of joy. We would lose a sense of excitement. We would not have any strong emotions.

Elijah was not the only man in the OT with depression. But we will use his experience for this study. 

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 1 Kings 19:1-2

is the main passage. We must realize something about these great OT men. They were people like us. Someone translates 

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. James 5:17

something like this: "Remember Elijah. He was a man like us."

There was a period of 400 years between the Old Testament (the first part of the Bible) and the New Testament (the second part of the Bible). At this time, people thought that Elijah had many strange qualities. They did not think that he was part of our world. To them, he was certainly not "a man like us." But James says that he was just like us. James thinks that it is an important fact. Elijah’s experiences were the same as ours. He had difficulties. He had tests. He knew what depression was like.

Let us now read this dramatic story in 1 Kings 19.

By Masonwabe Nyanga