The Elijah Syndrome

I’ve been requested to pull out my list of Coty Near-Facts of Science once again 😀 . In case you don’t recall, these are theories not yet proven by actual scientific studies, but nevertheless known by women to be true.

Hey, I had something else in mind to talk about today, so I’m gonna give you a few NF of S theories today with the promise of more next week. Okay by you?

TCC: Time Contortion Continuum (from my book, Mom NEEDS Chocolate): My theory is that an angel with a warped sense of humor operates the time joystick in heaven. He makes time drag on sleepless nights as you thrash about in the covers, but zips it by in hyperdrive when company’s coming and the gravy boat hits the kitchen tile.

BOOP: Boiling Oatmeal Overflow Phenomenon (from Too Blessed to be Stressed): I hypothesize that women are like pots of oatmeal; at the beginning of the day we simmer – little manageable bubbles of stress rises to the surface and harmlessly dissipate. But as the day progresses, the heat escalates and the oatmeal boils higher and wilder and meaner until it overflows and spoils everything around it with an ugly mess. Would that be you about 3 pm?

Joy Hors d’oeuvres (from More Beauty, Less Beast): A tiny foretaste of heaven. Balm for the skinned spirit. An unexpected interlude of beauty in the midst of a hectic day when we can pause long enough to smile and rekindle that Jesus-joy loitering inside. Ahhhh.

Okay, what I had in mind to discuss today is actually a first cousin of Near Facts of Science but doesn’t appear in any books (yet) and requires a little more explanation. It’s a theory that formed in my mind after reading an Old Testament passage about the prophet Elijah and recognizing that his actions and reactions resonate in my own life today. Here tis:

The Elijah Syndrome: Depression often follows great victory.

Here’s the background:

1. Elijah had just called down massive fire from heaven in a spectacular top ten biblical miracle (1 Kings 18:31-39). Win!
2. Elijah then asked Almighty God to send down rain from heaven after a 3-year drought and HE DID (1 Kings 18:41-45). Win-win!
3. Elijah girded up his loins (I always giggle at that part) and outran a dadgum horse on a 17-mile race through the desert (1 Kings 18:46). *I guess you can’t run as fast with loose loins.* Triple crown!
4. But when wicked queen Jezebel issued a death threat against him, Elijah fled for his life, isolated himself in the wilderness, and begged God to let him die (1 Kings 19:3-4). Wait. What?

Here’s Elijah’s response: He was more afraid of 1 angry woman than 850 angry men (the prophets of Baal that were involved in Win #1). Guess we can’t blame him there. But instead of depending on God’s power (yet again), he caved to depression and feelings of worthlessness.

Here’s my conclusion: After experiencing a series of HUGE miracles straight from the hand of Almighty God, Elijah executed a 180 and totally crashed and burned. Maybe his strength was depleted after the emotional exhaustion and stress of all those miracles. Maybe he forgot to ungird his loins. We don’t know. We just know that after all that (God proving without a shadow of a doubt that He’s large and in charge), when nasty Jezebel checked in, our guy checked out.

Hence my theory: Depression often follows great victory (The Elijah Syndrome).

Hmmm. Come to think of it, I seem to do that a lot too — experience a significant spiritual let-down after a major victory. What about you? Have you had any experience with The Elijah Syndrome? I’d love to hear your thoughts, dear BBFF (Blessed Blog Friend Forever) … please take a moment to comment below.