Our Daily Bread: Navigating the BluesSample

When We Are Distressed, PART 2

Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him. -1 KINGS 19:18

Depression can make you exaggerate everything.

Getting dressed feels like a monumental undertaking. Just thinking about going to an outing can feel like the most wearisome task ever. I have nothing to wear, I won’t know anyone (although someone had to invite me), I won’t talk to anyone, I won’t like anything or anyone there.

The smallest of issues can turn into huge, catastrophic events—all before they leave our mind. That’s exaggeration.

Look at Elijah again today. This man of God was suffering from severe burnout and exhaustion from his zealous work. He thought no one—no one—was on his side, the side of the Lord (1 Kings 19:14).

Yet, God told him He had reserved seven thousand in Israel who had not turned to the idol Baal. There were at least seven thousand people on the right side of the issue, yet Elijah felt he was the only one who had remained faithful.

I get it. When you don’t feel well, you think everything is crumbling around you. You feel alone and desperate and exhausted and burned out. You’re tired of the work. You’re tired of the fight. You, like Elijah, may just want to give up.

(Remember, if you’re having suicidal thoughts—you think about harming yourself—please call 1-800-273-8255 or dial 988.)

I tell myself not to make decisions when I’m feeling like Elijah. I know I’m not thinking straight and everything seems exaggerated.

So, I wait. I don’t make big decisions until I’m better—that way things won’t seem too big or overwhelming and I won’t feel like my back is up against the wall when it just may not be.

Get some rest. Wait to hear from God; He just may let you know that things are not as dire as they seem. There may be more people on your side than you know. There may be some resources right there in plain sight that will be revealed to you.

Just keep going. Keep looking and listening for God.

MY CONFESSION

I will not make any major decisions when I do not feel well.

When you’re depressed, everything seems too big, too hard to tackle. Take a rest and wait.

Write about what feels overwhelming for you today. Can it wait? If you have to finish today, how can you break it up into smaller, manageable tasks?

Faithful God: I admit I sometimes feel like everything is just too big and too hard to handle. I feel like Elijah and I just want to give up. Give me strength, wisdom, and clarity to know what needs to be done now and what can wait as I wait for your healing touch. Amen.

*This devotion is taken from Day 4 of Katara Washington Patton’s book Navigating the Blues: Where to Turn When Worry, Anxiety, or Depression Steals Your Hope.