"You Are Not Alone" by Dr. Kenneth Sullivan Jr. (11/30/2025)

You Are Not the Only One: Finding Hope in Depression and Discovering Your Greater Destiny

Life has a way of blindsiding us, doesn't it? One moment we're experiencing mountaintop victories, and the next we find ourselves in the valley of despair. Success doesn't exempt us from suffering, and spiritual maturity doesn't make us immune to depression. In fact, sometimes our greatest battles come immediately after our greatest victories.

The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 reveals this uncomfortable truth with startling clarity.

When Giants Face Giants

Elijah was arguably the most powerful prophet in Scripture. He spoke truth to power, declaring to King Ahab that there would be no rain for three years—and there wasn't. He called down fire from heaven. He outran royal chariots like an Olympic athlete. He experienced God's presence and power in extraordinary ways.

Yet immediately after these triumphs, we find him running for his life, sitting under a tree in the wilderness, and asking God to let him die.

How does someone so close to God, someone who has experienced such supernatural power, end up suicidal?

This is the question that should shake us awake. If Elijah—this spiritual giant—could sink into depression, then none of us are exempt. The National Institute of Mental Health tells us that millions of Americans struggle with depression today. But beyond the statistics are real people: successful people, spiritual people, talented people who are silently suffering.

The Loneliness of Success

Satan often works most aggressively on the most anointed. The higher you climb, the thinner the air becomes, and the fewer people can relate to your journey. Elijah's very success isolated him. Who could understand what it was like to call down fire from heaven? Who could relate to the pressure of being God's chosen instrument?

This is why we must learn to minister not just to people in their struggles, but also to people in their success. Not everyone needs God to make a way—some people are managing the way God has already made, and they're dealing with different devils at different levels.

The world was shocked when Robin Williams took his life. How could someone who made millions laugh be crying on the inside? How could successful people with seemingly everything choose to end it all? Because smiling in public doesn't mean you're not struggling in private.

The Danger of Depletion

Elijah wasn't just depressed; he was depleted. High output comes at a cost. When we're operating at peak performance, moving fast, getting things done, we often don't realize the impact it's having on us physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

If you're the strongest person in your family, the caretaker everyone depends on, the one always solving problems—you must take better care of yourself. You will be no good to anyone else if you don't learn to pause, rest, and replenish.

Notice what God does when He finds Elijah in this state: He doesn't rebuke him. He doesn't give him a pep talk. He tells him to eat and rest. "The journey is too great for you," God says, providing food and rest before anything else.

Jesus Himself often withdrew to hidden places. You cannot burn the candle at both ends without eventually burning out. If you're always pouring out and never being poured into, you'll run dry.

The new year word many of us need is simple: "No." No without explanation. No without apology. No to protect what remains. Because just because you're accessible doesn't mean you're available.

The Trap of Isolation

But here's the critical distinction: there's a difference between strategic withdrawal and dangerous isolation. God designed us as social beings who need relationships, community, and connection.

Satan operates like a lion, looking for the wounded, weak, and weary, separating them from the herd so he can devour them alone. He wants you to stop assembling with other believers, to cut off friendships, to live in isolation where he can overwhelm you with destructive thoughts.

Don't cut people off—categorize them. You thought they were a confidant when they were just a comrade. A confidant can sit on your secrets; a comrade is just along for the ride. You need people, but you need them in the right categories.

Speaking to Yourself

Twice in this passage, God asks Elijah the same question: "What are you doing here?"

This wasn't the place Elijah was supposed to be. God was challenging him to examine how he arrived at this mental and emotional location.

Martin Lloyd-Jones wisely said, "We must learn to speak to ourselves rather than letting ourselves speak to us." When you're alone and quiet, the enemy brings negative thoughts, lies, and destructive suggestions. That's when you must take captive those thoughts and speak life over your situation.

David did this in the cave when his own men turned against him. The Bible says "he encouraged himself in the Lord." You must learn to lay hands on yourself, pray over yourself, speak to your own situation. Go home and declare that everything out of place is getting ready to get in order, that every lack will be filled, that every need will be met.

Destined for More

Here's the beautiful twist in Elijah's story: God didn't just comfort him in his depression—He launched him into his greater destiny.

"I have 7,000 prophets who haven't bowed to Baal," God told him. "You are not the only one."

Then God gave him assignments: anoint the next king of Israel, anoint the next king of Syria, anoint the next prophet. God was moving Elijah from success to succession, from addition to multiplication.

What Elijah thought was the end was actually a new beginning. The latter glory would be greater than the former. What was ahead of him was greater than what was behind him.

This is the God we serve—a God who saves the best for last, who goes from faith to faith and glory to glory. Whatever you've lost will be replaced. Whatever's gone will be restored. Your future is greater than your past.

The Principle of Succession

When Elijah felt most discouraged, God told him to get up and pour into someone else. Find the next generation. Invest in others. Be a blessing.

This is profound: when you feel down and defeated, don't just sit there—find someone to encourage, to bless, to motivate. He who waters will also himself be watered.

Stop asking God to bless you and start asking Him to make you a blessing. If God makes you a blessing, you'll always be blessed.

Elijah obeyed. He found Elisha and poured into him. Elisha went on to perform twice as many miracles as Elijah. Elijah's name echoed into the New Testament, appearing at the Mount of Transfiguration alongside Jesus.

What God allowed Elijah to go through in that dark moment brought something greater out of him. God stretches us beyond what we think is our limit because He sees more in us than we see in ourselves.

What Are You Doing Here?

So the question comes to us today: What are you doing here?

If you're in a place of depression, discouragement, or despair—this is not where you're supposed to stay. This is not the end of your story.

If you're isolated and alone—reach out, reconnect, find community.

If you're depleted and exhausted—rest, replenish, and learn to say no.

If you think your best days are behind you—prepare for God to do something greater than you've ever imagined.

You are not the only one facing what you're facing. You are not alone in your struggle. And most importantly, God is not done with you yet.

Your latter glory will be greater than your former. What's ahead of you is greater than what's behind you. This is not the end—it's just the beginning of what God wants to do in and through your life.