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I wasn’t alone through my sorrow, although I felt very alone. The Lord knows our every need, and, if we allow Him to, He will supply before we ask or are even aware that we have a need. Whenever I am going through any kind of trial, I always try to cling to my Lord tighter. I must admit, however, that there have been times when I have not "felt" His presence. This has only made me hold on tighter. I pray harder and read His Word more, seeking His presence. Satan wants us to give up and turn our backs on the Lord at times like this, and sometimes we do.

Just as with Daniel, the Lord has an answer coming, but sometimes it’s held up as it was in Daniel 10:11-14. Satan tries to hinder our prayers from being answered immediately. Take note, however, that Satan can only do this with permission from God. Sometimes the Lord wants us to learn a lesson first before He allows the answer to come. Perhaps the Lord wants to teach us patience and encourage us to put complete trust in Him. Perhaps He desires to make us more thankful when the answer does come. Perhaps God is trying our faith to see if we truly believe that He will answer our prayers. Whatever the reason, it is always for our benefit.

Yes, sometimes I do get so lonesome I cry, and, at times like those, my comfort comes from the Psalms.

Psalm 138:3 "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul."

Psalm 34:17 "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Psalm 77:1 "I cried unto the God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me."

Psalm 102:1-2 "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily."

Depression is very real even in the Christian’s life, and the Lord knew that it could effect us deeply. That is why He has shown us how it effected Elijah. Through Elijah’s life we see that depression can come at any time in our lives, especially when we least expect it. Depression doesn’t always come because we fail to serve the Lord, although Satan would like for us to believe that.

How does depression or despair start? What causes it? There are as many reasons as there are people overtaken by it. Depression could be brought on by something that has been said to us, as was the cause with Elijah. It could be the result of a circumstance that has taken place in our lives or even a chemical imbalance in our bodies. Ask any woman who is going through menopausal symptoms! Whatever the cause, Prozac is not the ultimate answer. We already feel numb enough without a drug adding to the problem, though there are cases where some form of medication is required. God uses a variety of ways to help us. Unfortunately, too many times we run to the medicine cabinet first instead of to our Bibles.

In any form of depression or feeling of little worth, the person who is going through this must recognize what is happening. Personal awareness of the problem is necessary. We can’t force others to see that they have a problem, but the Lord can use us to help them recognize it for themselves. Once they do, they have to want help before the help will work. We can pray for them and openly show our concern; thereby helping them recognize a need in their lives. We can certainly encourage another person, but we must never try to force anyone into instant change.

As Elijah did, some seek relief in death, not realizing the grief that this would cause all of those who love them. Satan plants seeds of worthlessness in us at our most vulnerable times in our life. These seeds grow into self-pity. "Nobody loves me; I would be better off dead. Everything I do or touch is a mess anyway. Everyone would be better off without me," etc. Our minds become filled with a self-destructive thought pattern. If only we could be granted the wish that Jimmy Stewart’s character made in "It’s A Wonderful Life" perhaps we would also be surprised at how many lives have been affected by us for good. Perhaps there is someone in our future that we could lead to the saving knowledge of Jesus if we remain alive. There is always someone who could use our help. Why else would Satan want to get rid of us? Don’t give Satan the satisfaction of winning.

The Lord is just a prayer away. Psalm 42:5 says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." 

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