Sermonizing

I don't think of myself as a preacher. But this semester I am taking a class on preaching, so I have asked around for opportunities to practice. College Green, a local senior apartment complex, holds a Vespers service on Sunday evenings, and I was fortunate to be included on their schedule.

That was the easy part. Now I have to come up with a sermon! I have been reading about how to preach but have only actually given a sermon a handful of times. Much more of my ministry involves pastoral care kinds of activities. The books say talk about something you are wrestling with. What am I wrestling with? Well, how to help Mom for one thing. How do you minister to someone who doesn't want you to talk to them?

I gave that some thought and prayer. Here is what I ended up saying:

One of God’s Plans for Dealing with Depression

As a cancer survivor, I see my oncologist on a regular basis. One of the questions she asks me from time to time is whether I am depressed. I always say, “I don’t think so.” And she always responds “If you are depressed, you are the happiest, most upbeat depressed person I know.”

According to the American Medical Association, upwards of 15% of the population in the United States feels depressed.

I know someone like that. Her name is Lillian, and tonight I want to share her story with you.

Lillian became a Christian in her teens, attended a Bible College, married a pastor, raised a family, helped build the family house, and faithfully attended church for nearly 60 years of marriage. Every night, she and her husband had devotions together and kept a journal of their prayers. Lillian was a powerful prayer warrior and saw the Lord answer her prayers, often in miraculous ways.

Then one day her husband was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a few weeks later at the age of 86. For awhile, Lillian’s children marveled at how well she was handling her loss.

Then one day, Lillian said “Why am I here? I have served my purpose, raised my family, took care of my husband. There is nothing left for me to do. I’m just marking time. Why can’t I go home and be with the Lord.”

She stopped being interested in bird watching and reading and quilting, things she once enjoyed. She sits in her chair day after day refusing to engage with life, waiting to die.

It’s difficult to watch someone go through such an experience. Lillian’s children tried everything they could to help her. They took her to psychiatrists and psychologists and geriatric specialists who did their best, but could not touch Lillian’s grief.

They tried pastoral counseling and Christian counselors to no avail. Each of her children talked with her, trying to find the words that would help her snap out of her misery and rejoin life.

I couldn’t help but wonder where God was in all of this. Surely the Bible could offer words of wisdom we could say that would help us reach Lillian and return her joy of living. As I prayed about Lillian’s situation, God led me to this story in I Kings 19.

Let me set it up for you. I'm sure you know the story. Elijah had prayed for a severe drought. It lasted 3 years. Finally he confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He called down fire from heaven to completely consume a water-drenched sacrifice, wood, bull, stones and all, proving to the people of Israel beyond a shadow of doubt that God is real and powerful and worthy of worship. Because of his boldness, God’s people fell on their face, repented and proclaimed the Lord as their God.

Elijah killed 850 false prophets who had misled the people to serve Baal and Asherah, and then he caused the drought to end through fervent prayer. The power of God came over Elijah and he ran faster than the king’s horse-drawn chariot down the mountain.

In spite of all that amazing victory, when Jezebel, whose prophets had been killed, threatened to kill him, Elijah ran away scared. So in I Kings 19 starting in verse 3 we read:

3“When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him.”

Notice how Elijah isolated himself from those who could have encouraged and supported him. First, he was convinced that he was the only person left who served God. He says in verse 10 “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left.”

Then we hear that he left his faithful servant behind and purposely headed out into the wilderness. It is almost as if Elijah wanted to pout and be miserable.

Lillian has done the same thing. She has cut herself off from everyone. She doesn’t want to get letters or take phone calls or be visited by friends or family. She stopped going to church.

Once Elijah was alone, out where there would be no chance of anyone intervening, out where there were no distractions, no comforts, no provisions, out where he could be as miserable on the outside as he felt on the inside, he spoke the bottom line out loud.

He said what was really bothering him. “God, why don’t you just let me die? I’ve had enough. I’m tired. I’ve done more than my share, and without any help, thank you very much. It hasn’t made any difference anyway. That old Jezebel is still in power. The people are fickle and soon they’ll be right back to worship Baal.

What good is anything I have done, anyways? The world moves on and I am left out, a relic of an era long past. I’m not doing any good. Just taking up space, breathing air someone else could use. Go on. Take me home. Let me be done.”

It must have felt good to get the weight of all that off his chest. It was such a relief to be open and honest about his discouragement, that immediately afterwards he fell asleep. No more worrying or fretting or stewing. He had cast his burden on God, laid all his ugly cards on the table, then, exhausted, he gave in to his depression and slept.

Lillian has not yet reached the place where she can say her honest feelings to God, confident that God will still love and care for her. Hopefully she will be able to come to that place.

God’s reaction to Elijah’s tantrum? Thunderbolts? Condemnation? Reproach? Not at all.

First, he began by addressing the isolation. He sent someone to minister to Elijah. In this case, it was an angel who touched him. There is something about physical contact that is so soothing and comforting. It helps us know we are not alone.

Second, the angel saw to Elijah’s physical needs. He baked Elijah some bread and provided, even in this barren wilderness, refreshing water.

If Elijah had really wanted to die, I suspect he would have refused the sustenance. But he got up, ate and drank, and lay down again.

Sometimes the best antidote for depression is food and rest provided by the hand of someone who job it is just to care for us. One of Lillian’s daughter’s has become the nurturer for Lillian, seeing to her physical needs and giving her permission to rest.

Neither God nor the angel told Elijah that he needed to immerse himself in God’s promises, or that he ought to know better than to behave in such a childish way, or that it is sinful to wish to be dead. Nothing about Elijah’s spiritual state is addressed by God’s actions. No preaching. No condemnation.

God didn’t send him a self help book or tell him to pull himself up by the bootstraps and quit acting like a dope. God didn’t say “You are a King’s Son. Act like one.”

God’s response indicates that a display of loving care is needed for someone so discouraged. It is normal and natural to be in such a state.

Like a loving parent picks up and carries a toddler who has worn himself out at the playground, God nurtures his prophet with kindness, hospitality, and patience.

The angel returns a second time to feed Elijah. It takes time and continual ministration of love to help someone move beyond a state of depression, of thinking that their life is worthless, that all their work for the kingdom has left no mark.

Thank goodness God is in the restoration business. Psalm 23 tells us that our Shepherd restores our soul by providing for our needs, by leading us in green pastures and beside still waters, just as He is doing here with Elijah.

This time, just a hint of solution to the situation is mentioned. The angel tells Elijah that the Journey is too much for him unless he takes the second round of provision. Journey? What journey?

Elijah begins to realize that he is not just running away on his own whim. God is with him, and has a destination in mind. How good it must have felt to realize that God had not abandoned him.

Elijah’s journey took 40 days and 40 nights. Elijah, in a slightly better place but not yet out of the woods, walks on and on and on finding neither resolution nor answers. He knows he is out of the line of fire, safe but far from happy.

Elijah’s destination is Horeb, the Mountain of God. This is the important part of the story, the part where God asks something of Elijah now that he has regained some stamina. God’s request was simple. Come to me. This is the third step in God’s plan. God always wants his children to come to him when things are not right.

After finally arriving, and after a good night’s rest, at long last, Elijah is ready to hear what God will say. And what does God say?

This is the fourth step. He asks Elijah to repeat the question. And then, God listens. This is not just some mean poking at a person when he is down or a psychological ploy. God is interested in what Elijah has to say. This is Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me and I will show you great and marvelous things.”

Notice Elijah’s statement of the issue. It has changed. No longer does he say let me die because everything I have ever done for you has been pointless. Rather his question is couched in more hopeful terms.

He says, “I’ve been zealous for you. Israel has rejected you and killed your prophets. I am the only one faithful to you, and they are trying to kill me.”

This implies “So, what are you going to do, God?” This is less focused on Elijah, less about Jezebel’s threat, less about the effectiveness of Elijah’s work and more about God.

Once Elijah hears himself ask the question honestly, God still does not give him a three point outline, or 7 steps to victory, or some lengthy lecture. What does God do? He simply says “Elijah, go stand in my presence. Come out of the cave, stand on the mountain of God, and be where I am.” Period.

One simple thing. But Elijah can’t do it. He still wasn’t ready to hear. He does not go out of the cave.

God sends wind strong enough to shatter rocks. Earthquakes. Fires. Wow. Impressive and maybe a bit scary. But none of that touched Elijah’s heart. He could not be forced to listen and more than Lillian’s children can make her listen.

It wasn’t until things quieted down that Elijah finally went out of the cave into the presence of God. The Bible tells us that he pulled his cloak over his face, perhaps in recognition that he was unworthy to stand in the presence of God. Perhaps because of his overwhelming pain. Perhaps because he can’t bring himself to see anybody else yet.

Now God asks the question again, face to face. How much better it is to talk to someone in person! To be able to see their reactions and read their body language.

What are you doing here, Elijah? Can he see that God cares and is seriously interested in what Elijah is dealing with? Once again, Elijah states his case. “God, I have always loved and served you. But the world has changed. It’s not a friendly place anymore. I feel like my life is over. I feel like it’s all been a waste of time and energy, what I have done with my life.”

Hear what God said to Elijah: “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.
18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

God’s Steps to helping Elijah out of his depression?

First, he was with Elijah and sent him someone to minister to him.
Second, he fed Elijah and helped him rest.
Third, he invited Elijah to come into his presence.
Fourth, God listened to him.
Here is the fifth thing God does. He puts things in perspective with eternity, and gives Elijah both encouragement and an assignment.


Turns out his life is not over. There is work to do. Important work. Maybe not mountaintop Baal- worshiper-destruction and massive conversion miracles. But kingdom work all the same.

He shows Elijah the future, that a new king is on the way in. That the opposition will be taken care of. That a new prophet will take up the work Elijah has been doing and provide him with years of close companionship. And most of all, he shows Elijah that he is not alone because there are still 7,000 who love and serve God in the land.

I think of a friend of mine, Kathleen Merry. She and I were both battling cancer in 2005. We both had bouts when we were able to do little more than just lie on the couch and breathe.

Kathleen wrote about how helpless she felt that she could not care for her family or even handle her own basic needs. She thought she was useless and a terrible burden to everyone. But the Lord reminded her that she could pray. She had lots of time to pray. More than others. And pray she did with fervor unmatched.

What about Lillian? I cannot do anything to fix her situation. I cannot give her any magic words that will snap her out of her depression. But God can help her. It will take time and love, both of which God showers on Lillian every day even though she does not yet see it.

Lillian is being fed and cared for, she is resting. She is plodding through the wilderness on her long journey to the mountain of God. I know now that there is nothing I or anyone else can say or do to address her depression. But I see that God deeply cares for Lillian and is working with her, restoring her, loving her.

When she is ready to listen to God, she will hear his love and encouragement, see things from God’s eternal perspective and know that her work is not yet done. God still has important things for her to do. God will help her understand.

I entrust Lillian to God’s care daily in prayer and hope she comes through her wilderness quickly. I know that God cares about Lillian because Lillian is his daughter. I care about Lillian because Lillian is my Mom.

Amen.