The Elijah Complex
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
1 Kings 19:3
Elijah was truly a man of God. He had just witnessed God display His power against the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18:16-45). When Jezebel heard of it, she sent a messenger to Elijah who said, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (19:2). This incredible man of God was afraid and ran for his life. He left his servant in Beersheba and went a day’s journey into the desert. Then he cried out in despair, “I have had enough, Lord . . . take my life; I am no better than my ancestors (verse 4). Then he lay down and went to sleep.
Elijah was exhibiting many of the classic signs of depression. He was afraid, fatigued, felt like a helpless failure, and was isolated and all alone. That can easily happen after a mountaintop experience. Brimming with confidence and flushed with victory, Elijah suddenly found himself vulnerable. Confidence in God can easily turn to self-confidence when we let our guard down. God in His mercy prescribed some food and rest for His discouraged warrior. “All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water” (verses 5-6).
We can become depressed when our electrolytes are depleted and our bodies are malfunctioning for lack of nutrition, as was probably the case for Elijah. God addressed these deficiencies by prescribing food and rest. Our mental health is dependent on a proper balance of rest, exercise and diet. In addition, Elijah was probably suffering from post-adrenal exhaustion. Our adrenal glands respond to stress by secreting cortisone into our bloodstream. If the stress becomes too great, our adrenal glands can’t keep up. Stress becomes distress, and our system breaks down. This often happens to driven people who work until they collapse in exhaustion and depression.
However, the precipitating cause of Elijah’s depression was not physical. This faithful servant had always been obedient to God. Now the Lord asked him twice, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (verses 9,13). Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. 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, and now they are trying to kill me too” (verse 10). Elijah ran because he believed a lie, not because God sent him into the wilderness. Further, Elijah wasn’t the only one left—there were 7,000 others who had not bowed their knees to Baal (see verse 18).
God was not asking Elijah (or us) to establish His kingdom program or bring judgment on those who had not kept His covenant. He was asking Elijah (and us) to trust Him and follow where He led. He will bring judgment and establish His kingdom in His way and in His timing—it is neither for us to decide nor accomplish. Although Elijah was zealous for God’s work, he was wrong to assume sole responsibility for getting the job done. Those who buy into the Elijah complex are vulnerable to the enemy’s lies and may end up mentally depressed and physically exhausted.
Some questions to consider:
Review the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18. What led to Elijah’s fleeing in fear and his subsequent state of despair?
What was wrong with Elijah’s thinking?
What is post-adrenal exhaustion and what are the treatments?
Jezebel’s curse was a lie and curses can have no effect on us unless we believe them? What curses/lies have led you to run like Elijah?
How have you bought into the Elijah complex and attempted to take on God’s responsibility?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.