Emotional health is definitely taking a massive beating during this global pandemic. If we were to think of our emotional health as a bank account and our emotions as the currency, there are deposits and there are withdrawals. The global pandemic, the lockdown, the economic devastation, the uncertain future and many other issues surrounding the pandemic are making big-time withdrawals from our emotional banks. And some of us are running dry because we are unable to make the usual deposits into the bank.
Elijah faced a similar situation and his emotional and spiritual bank seems to have been emptied after his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. So, when Jezebel threatened to kill him, he had nothing left and he panicked and ran. Fortunately, he discovered help in a widow in a foreign land and there he found shelter, safety and space to rebuild his battered emotions.
Going beyond the strict interpretation to draw an analogy that we can use for dealing with depression, here are some truths we can use. Obviously, they are not exhaustive and some more suggestions are provided below, but this is what we can infer from Elijah’s experience. He went to a different country – now I know we can’t travel but if possible, a different environment is a tonic for the soul. A place where we can find some space for ourselves.
He found someone who was able to feed him and though there was a famine, the food did not run out. Food is in itself a medical treatment and helps our minds and bodies repair itself and even build immunity. He had a place to rest, good sleep is essential in our recovery.
So, when our emotional banks have too many withdrawals and little deposits we are in danger of running dry and depression is a very real condition we may experience, it may be a time to “escape to a safe place”. And for those of you whose emotional bank is full, and your world is not crashing around you, do reach out to someone who needs help and be a source of shelter, of companionship and provision of a person’s physical and emotional needs.
Here are a few articles that can help you overcome emotional turmoil biblically.
Depression is a mental illness that l live with every day. l was officially diagnosed with depression three years ago after l became burnout from my work as a teacher. Here’s how I would describe my depressive episodes: My mind feels like it’s been overtaken by negative emotions and thoughts, such as sadness and futility.
I never thought that I would have depression. It seemed like something only strangers had. Even when a close friend of mine struggled with depression a few years ago, I couldn’t relate to what she was going through. I just thought of it as a really low period some people had and would eventually get out of, if only they tried hard enough.
All of us deal with anxiety at some point or another, from the minor anxiety of being scared of the dark, to a full-on anxiety attack. When anxiety hits, it can be hard for us to remember what we know about God. We can get so caught up in our immediate situations, it becomes difficult to step back and see the bigger picture.
Whether moving abroad for school or work, recovering from a recent breakup, enduring misunderstandings with our family, or for seemingly no identifiable reason at all—we have all felt the familiar, sticky grasp of loneliness.
I have always struggled with insecurities. As a child, I grew up in an environment that taught me that mistakes can and should be prevented at all costs. If it happens, then it must be my fault. Hence, I have always felt the need to be perfect and to present the best version of myself to everyone.
