情绪低落的成因和出路
列王纪上十九章1至9节
1亚哈将以利亚一切所行的和他用刀杀众先知的事都告诉耶洗别。
2耶洗别就差遣人去见以利亚，告诉他说：明日约在这时候，我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一样，愿神明重重地降罚与我。
3以利亚见这光景就起来逃命，到了犹大的别是巴，将仆人留在那里，
4自己在旷野走了一日的路程，来到一棵罗腾(小树名，松类；下同)树下，就坐在那里求死，说：耶和华啊，罢了！求你取我的性命，因为我不胜于我的列祖。
5他就躺在罗腾树下，睡着了。有一个天使拍他，说：起来吃罢！
6他观看，见头旁有一瓶水与炭火烧的饼，他就吃了喝了，仍然躺下。
7耶和华的使者第二次来拍他，说：起来吃罢！因为你当走的路甚远。
8他就起来吃了喝了，仗着这饮食的力，走了四十昼夜，到了神的山，就是何烈山。
9他在那里进了一个洞，就住在洞中。耶和华的话临到他说：以利亚啊，你在这里做甚么？
信息分享
在我们今天的经文中，我们看到一位被神重用的先知，也会出现情绪低落。我们若能明白他出现低落的原因，以及神如何以恩慈待他，我们将深得鼓励。
昨天以利亚在迦密山上的一役，显然是他属灵经验的高峰。也许，每一位为神工作的人都会有此经历，就是为神完成了一件重要的工作，得到神的大大祝福之后，便可能是他最危险的时间，因为撒但会作出激烈的反击。不管之前经历了多大的祝福，那种反击的力量仍是非常致命的；出现「被拖垮」的感觉几乎无可避免。
以利亚此刻感到身心俱疲，也是很容易理解的。神行了神迹，命天降火之后，以利亚便为百姓祈求神消除旱灾，再次下雨；接着便真的下雨了。以利亚在大雨滂沱之际，跑向30英里以外的耶斯列，可想而知是如何的疲惫不堪。所以，当你身体疲惫的时候，要非常当心，因为撒但经常会在你最软弱的时候，伺机来攻击你。
接着收到的死亡恐吓，使他陷入极大的恐慌。他再也承受不来了，他要马上逃命。这次他走得更远了，很可能超过一百英里。
最后，他走到筋疲力竭，在极大恐慌和灵性真空的情况下，他倒在一颗树下求死：「主啊，罢了！求你让我死吧。」然后便躺在树下呼呼大睡。
当我们身心俱疲的时候，我们要极其小心。我们今天把这种状态称为「耗尽」。无论从灵性或情绪的角度而言，这都是非常危险的时间。当你处于这种光景时，绝对不要作任何重大的决定。
我们明天将会看到，神如何以恩慈的手去扶立以利亚，使这位充满苦恼和挫败的仆人再次站立起来。
你可能会因挫败离开神的旨意，神却绝不离弃你，祂必看顾到底。
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.