But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God (1 Kings 19:4-8).
Elijah, in the space of a few short verses, descends from the giddy heights of victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to the depths of suicidal depression in the wilderness. In this state he twice has an angelic visitation. The angel does not miraculously lift his depression but first provides sustenance for Elijah’s present condition and, on a second occasion, provides food and drink for a forty day journey through the wilderness. Only at the end of this long journey does Elijah have a transformational encounter with God. Food, drink and the presence of ministering angels are essential accompaniments through the long journey of depression.
Been there done that, married one of the angels! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God.