Day 1: The Juniper Tree

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

1 Kings 19:4

Depression is a debilitating illness. According to the Mental Health Foundation, it is “the predominant mental health problem worldwide, followed by anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder”. 2017 saw 5,821 suicides in the UK alone, and 1 in 15 people made a suicide attempt in the same year. Notably, 75 per cent of the aforementioned suicides were committed by men and it is the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49 in England and Wales. From the above scripture, we can see that Elijah the prophet was such a man at risk.

Where did it all go wrong? Just a few verses before, he was literally on top of the mountain, having just assisted one of the most astonishing miracles recorded in the Bible. The spectacle of Mount Carmel, where Elijah asked God to rain down a tornado of fire in the presence of idol worshippers, is often noted alongside the parting of the Red Sea, the flood, and the Resurrection as Major Bible Moments. It would also be Elijah’s downfall: Queen Jezebel, enraged at Elijah’s defiance of the culture of the day, would set a death warrant for the prophet, forcing him to hide in the wilderness. In despair and loneliness, Elijah tells God that he wants to die.

It might appear to be an erratic mood swing, but as a prophet, Elijah already carried a heavy burden. It is not an easy job by any means, and it requires a strict and solemn lifestyle not helped by death threats—Jezebel’s decree may have been the final straw.

The encouragement we can take from this is that despite his pain, Elijah still felt that he could approach God with his worries. He told him honestly that he felt suicidal. Sometimes, the first step in getting help is opening up to someone; whether a family member, a friend, spouse, or even someone a little more distant: a mutual on social media, an Instagram follower—anyone you can trust. It might seem like a small step, but it is actually a major part of healing: talk to someone. It might make a world of difference.