Elijah had just seen a great victory for the Lord (1 Kings 18). He stood against a large number of false prophets and, putting his faith in God, saw the evildoers completely defeated.

Then, remarkably, Elijah lost his nerve. After Jezebel threatened him, he ran for his life. Leaving his servant behind, he went off by himself. Exhausted, he said a prayer that pretty much indicated that he was giving up, and then lay down to go to sleep.

Suddenly God intervened in his life. An angel gave him something to eat. Then Elijah slept again. After that he got up and ate some more. At this point he was no longer ready to give up. He continued on with renewed strength (1 Kings 19).

What we need to beat the blues is often quite simple. First, we need companionship. If Elijah had taken his servant with him, he wouldn’t have felt so much alone. He probably would have received much-needed encouragement—perhaps a reminder of the victory that they had so recently experienced. When you’re feeling down, don’t go off by yourself. Allow a trusted friend to help you through the situation.

Second, sometimes we become more negative because we aren’t getting enough sleep. Slumber helped Elijah get back on track. It might be what you need too.

Third, we need to make sure that we are eating well. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to discouragement. A healthy meal or snack just might help improve your outlook on life.

Friends, rest and food—there is your prescription to beat the blues.