Even Elijah Broke Down

Having anxiety and depression doesn’t make you weak as a Christian.

I repeat: you are NOT weak.

We have all faced challenges in life.

Childhood trauma.

Difficult relationships.

Job changes.

Financial struggles.

Physical loss.

Sickness.

Grief.

Abuse.

Regret.

Life has a way of knocking us down, and some days it can feel almost impossible to smile.

I know I’ve spent many nights crying into my pillow.

I’ve even driven to work in complete silence. No music. Just numbness.

Can you relate?

Being a Christian doesn’t mean you are never sad or worried. Yes, we know the Lord is with us. He sees every conflict, every tear, and every time our hearts have been broken into pieces.

He’s been there watching over us and caring for us. He knows exactly what you’ve been through.

But the physical and emotional side of us can feel overwhelming. Our thoughts become so loud. Some days we feel like we simply can’t keep going.

Keep in mind the Prophet Elijah. He was exhausted. Burnt out. Afraid. Depressed. He even asked the Lord to take his life because he was so overwhelmed.

But look at how God responded.

Instead of reprimanding Elijah, the Lord sent an angel with food and water. He told Elijah to rest. God gave him space to recover, recharge, and regain focus.

Sometimes that’s exactly what we need when anxiety and stress consume us.

Pause.

Breathe.

Slow down.

Take care of yourself in the healthiest way possible.

God reminded Elijah that he was not alone.

God sustains and restores us, but we also have to do our part. We won’t feel better if we neglect ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Healing often begins with taking that first small step forward.

I personally believe the Lord fully supports seeking therapy and medication when needed to help manage heavy emotions. We can seek professional help while also seeking God during the healing process.

You can have both.

Having an emotional breakdown does not make you weak.

It means you’re tired.

It means you need rest.

It means you need to talk it out.  

And sometimes, before we can help others, we first have to help ourselves.