情緒低落的成因和出路
列王紀上十九章1至9節
1亞哈將以利亞一切所行的和他用刀殺眾先知的事都告訴耶洗別。
2耶洗別就差遣人去見以利亞，告訴他說：明日約在這時候，我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一樣，願神明重重地降罰與我。
3以利亞見這光景就起來逃命，到了猶大的別是巴，將僕人留在那裡，
4自己在曠野走了一日的路程，來到一棵羅騰(小樹名，松類；下同)樹下，就坐在那裡求死，說：耶和華啊，罷了！求你取我的性命，因為我不勝於我的列祖。
5他就躺在羅騰樹下，睡著了。有一個天使拍他，說：起來吃罷！
6他觀看，見頭旁有一瓶水與炭火燒的餅，他就吃了喝了，仍然躺下。
7耶和華的使者第二次來拍他，說：起來吃罷！因為你當走的路甚遠。
8他就起來吃了喝了，仗著這飲食的力，走了四十晝夜，到了神的山，就是何烈山。
9他在那裡進了一個洞，就住在洞中。耶和華的話臨到他說：以利亞啊，你在這裡做甚麼？
信息分享
在我們今天的經文中，我們看到一位被神重用的先知，也會出現情緒低落。我們若能明白他出現低落的原因，以及神如何以恩慈待他，我們將深得鼓勵。
昨天以利亞在迦密山上的一役，顯然是他屬靈經驗的高峰。也許，每一位為神工作的人都會有此經歷，就是為神完成了一件重要的工作，得到神的大大祝福之後，便可能是他最危險的時間，因為撒但會作出激烈的反擊。不管之前經歷了多大的祝福，那種反擊的力量仍是非常致命的；出現「被拖垮」的感覺幾乎無可避免。
以利亞此刻感到身心俱疲，也是很容易理解的。神行了神蹟，命天降火之後，以利亞便為百姓祈求神消除旱災，再次下雨；接著便真的下雨了。以利亞在大雨滂沱之際，跑向30英里以外的耶斯列，可想而知是如何的疲憊不堪。所以，當你身體疲憊的時候，要非常當心，因為撒但經常會在你最軟弱的時候，伺機來攻擊你。
接著收到的死亡恐嚇，使他陷入極大的恐慌。他再也承受不來了，他要馬上逃命。這次他走得更遠了，很可能超過一百英里。
最後，他走到筋疲力竭，在極大恐慌和靈性真空的情況下，他倒在一顆樹下求死：「主啊，罷了！求你讓我死吧。」然後便躺在樹下呼呼大睡。
當我們身心俱疲的時候，我們要極其小心。我們今天把這種狀態稱為「耗盡」。無論從靈性或情緒的角度而言，這都是非常危險的時間。當你處於這種光景時，絕對不要作任何重大的決定。
我們明天將會看到，神如何以恩慈的手去扶立以利亞，使這位充滿苦惱和挫敗的僕人再次站立起來。
你可能會因挫敗離開神的旨意，神卻絕不離棄你，祂必看顧到底。
DEPRESSION - ITS CAUSE AND CURE
1 Kings 19:1-9
1 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.”
3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Message
Many Christians suffer from some form of depression. There are various reasons for this. It may begin as discouragement. It may arise out of self-pity, which can lead to depression. This can bring a sense of worthlessness or hopelessness. Our modern society with all its pressures has resulted in an enormous increase in this problem of depression, even among Christians.
Here is a saint who lived long ago and who was in deep depression. It may be helpful for us to see the causes of his breakdown. We can be encouraged too, as we see how graciously God dealt with him.
For Elijah, the previous day must have been a spiritual mountain top. Now it is the day after. Any Christian worker can tell you that the day after great blessing can be a dangerous time. Satan will counter-attack. Reaction can be disastrous, no matter how great the previous blessing is. A 'let down' feeling is almost inevitable.
Elijah's physical exhaustion could easily have taken over. After the miracle of the fire, and Elijah's intercession, the rain had started. Elijah ran 30 miles through heavy rain to the city of Jezreel. Watch out when you are extremely tired. It is the devil's opportunity to attack you in your weakness.
Next, a threat against his life created tremendous fear. It was the last straw. He started to run again. This time the distance is longer, well over 100 miles.
Finally, physically exhausted, deep in fear and spiritually out of touch he threw himself down under a tree. "I'm finished Lord, let me die!" Then he dropped off to sleep.
Watch out for physical and mental exhaustion. It is often called "burnout" today. It is a dangerous time, spiritually and emotionally. Never make a major decision when you are in that condition.
Tomorrow we will see how beautifully God dealt with a troubled and defeated servant.
YOU MAY BE DEFEATED AND OUT OF GOD'S WILL, BUT YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF HIS CONCERN.