"Often our monuments of greatest triumph in life serve as precursors to our moments of greatest temptation."

There probably wasn't a Jew in all of Israel who didn't know the name "Elijah" - especially after his flashy victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. When the worship of YHWH was forsaken for the pagan fertility gods of Baal and Asherah; when false prophets had swayed the populace in favour of popular culture; when even the nation's leaders had forsaken their duty to uphold integrity and justice - one man held his ground.

Against all odds, this peculiar wilderness prophet - clothed in camel's hair and sustained on a diet of wild locusts, stood before 450 members of the opposition and boldly challenged them to a showdown. The contest would determine once and for all, who was the true God worthy of the Israelite's love and devotion. The offering was bulls; the anticipated verdict - fire.

In the most anticipated pay-per-view event of the century, spectators lined up along the mountainside as two large, yet distinctly different altars were erected. As the representatives of the reigning champ encircled their altar, there was singing, dancing and ceremonial cutting - no fire.

And just as all of the competition's efforts had resulted in little more than blowing smoke, YHWH brought the heat. Columns of flame descended from the heavens, setting the evening sky ablaze. The stench of burnt flesh as the offering was consumed, filled the nostrils of the opposition, who only moments before had held their proud noses high in indignation. The matter was settled - YHWH was God; Baal was not.

Nation-wide repentance, revival…whatever you want to call it. Israel's God had won an immense victory that day through the hand of his servant Elijah. In a Cinderella-story come true, the underdog had conquered all odds - holding fast to his beliefs, silencing the proud mockers and of course, saving the nation. However, what follows after is not the royal wedding, celebrity status or sandal endorsements you might have anticipated.

1Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4But 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 my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

 5He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat." 6Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you." 8So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19)

Elijah had won an immense victory over the external obstacle of idolatry at Mount Carmel - true. However after the gathering had been dismissed, even as the sound of distant raindrops began to resound on the mountainside, Elijah's true battle was only beginning.

For every battle that is fought in the real world, there is always a corresponding internal battle which wages within the heart and mind of the minister. What could cause a mighty man of Elijah's accomplishments to quiver with fear and fall into depression? Perhaps we forget at times that servants of God are human as well - subject the same frailty and struggles that we all face.

I have found that my greatest times of weakness in life and ministry have always been immediately following a great victory. Some of the lowest times in my life are after a rally, retreat or powerful meeting. This is often the time when people return home, blessed, full of joy and right with God. However it is at this same time that the minister often goes home empty, dry and exhausted. These are by far the loneliest times in my life, and I see them again and again in the lives of people in ministry.

Elijah's complaint after Mount Carmel:

"I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
(1 Kings 19:10)

Jesus after a full day of ministry:

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
(Mark 1:45)

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
(Luke 5:15-16)

Paul's request for companionship:

Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
(2 Timothy 4:9-11)

Loneliness and depression are internal struggles that wage war in the hearts and lives of many of us to varying degrees. I guarantee no one in Israel was aware of Elijah's plight under the juniper tree that evening. Sadly that's how many of us fight the same losing battle.

I once read that each person has three fuel gauges within themselves. One is physical, the second is spiritual and the third is emotional. Supplementing emotional fuel with more spiritual feeding is like putting diesel into an unleaded car - the engine's just not gonna like it. I’ve heard people tell me before that "in those times all you have and need is God". And to be honest... frig. I don't know if I totally agree with that. I think accountability and fellowship are two key answers to depression and loneliness, especially after intense service.

Once again, pastors, parents, teachers, leaders and everyone in between are still people - not spiritually enlightened beings who don't need to eat and drink. They have feelings and still know how to cry. Loneliness and depression need to be fought with real solutions. To respond to loneliness and depression, I might recommend a few solutions:

1.      Fellowship

When Paul found himself isolated and lonely in prison, he requested the presence of a few good friends (Timothy and Mark). Honestly, there's no supplement for strong accountability. There's no such thing as a lone ranger in the Kingdom of God, and we need to support one another. Whether you're Christian or not, you need a few good friends to pick you up when you're down and when the need arises, offer a shoulder to cry on. If you don’t have any - get some! If you have absolutely nowhere to start - leave a post =)

2.      Prayer

Jesus' response to loneliness was to use it as an opportunity to draw closer to God. Honestly, prayer can feel like the last thing we want to do at times, but God is really always there. My man Joshua Harris in I Kissed Dating Goodbye talks about using every season of singleness as an opportunity for greater dependence upon and service of God… Yeah, I'm not sure if that one works, but whatever. Try it and let me know if it works, I'd prefer the girlfriend.

3.      Good food and naps

Honestly, not the most spiritual solution, but maybe that's why I love it. Elijah had two good meals and two good naps. Sometimes we're just so consumed with work that we just don’t take the time to slow ourselves down and reward our bodies. Personally, I’ll throw in a shower and mindless kung-fu movie with crappy subtitles, and I feel like a new man.