Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Health, Fitness and Religion
Elijah’s Healing: Ancient Biopsychosocial-spiritual Example

Elijah’s Healing: Ancient Biopsychosocial-spiritual Example

Last updated on: June 30, 2026 at 1:41 am by Adrian Warnock

0 Comments

Elijah’s Healing: Ancient Biopsychosocial-spiritual Example 2026-06-30T01:41:18+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The multifaceted kindness of God.

Elijah had a huge moment of crisis. You might be surprised to realize that God responded by using a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach. God may not have used those terms, but he had that understanding of Elijah. He deals with him as a whole person and brings healing into every domain.

Watch the Video:

Watch, hear, or read a longer version of this article on Substack or find audio wherever you listen to podcasts

A sudden collapse

In 1 Kings 19, the great prophet Elijah had his most human but least impressive moment. In the precious chapter he had confronted the prophets of Baal, prayed for rain, and seen it fall. This had been the moment of his zenith, the great miracle that proved the reality of God, and for which we remember him today. But then Queen Jezebel says, “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you.” Elijah had stood up to the whole people of God and been the victor. But sometimes our greatest vulnerability comes at our most glorious moment. He was afraid and fled for his life. And yet God doesn’t confront him immediately.

The Prophet was not immune from suicidal thoughts

Elijah went into the wilderness, sometimes it is right to withdraw, as Jesus did. But he sat down next to a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. The Bible is not a stranger to suicidal thoughts. Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed too, and like Elijah, have withdrawn from people who could help. It’s so important to reach out and to seek pastoral or professional help. Follow the link for more information on how to get help during such a crisis.

When Life Hurts: Physical, Mental, Social, & Spiritual Pain

Elijah added, “I’m no better than my ancestors.” This is a flash of insight: John Newton says we have to understand our own hearts and the deception inside them if we’re going to fully nderstand the grace of God. How many of us think we’re better than other people? It’s the prayer of the Pharisee: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers” (Luke 18:11, NLT). Sometimes it takes us a lifetime to realize what Elijah did in that moment. There really is no difference, we have all sinned.

Biological healing: food, sleep, rest and exercise

The angel didn’t immediately challenge Elijah and say, “You’re wrong to be afraid.” He just says, “Eat.” When we meet somebody in terrible mental distress, we want to help by telling them something, advice, correcting their thinking. God doesn’t do that. He sends an angel who could have healed Elijah in a moment, but instead simply meets a physical need. How often we forget to look after our bodies, especially in that sense of burnout. Elijah finds bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water; he eats, drinks, and sleeps again. The angel returns: “Get up and eat. Eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

Food and sleep can be life-transforming.

God addresses a superficial need first. We don’t have to wait for a deep revelation before healing begins, sometimes only meeting biological needs can make the psychological, social, and spiritual healing possible. You can’t effectively counsel someone severely who is sleep-deprived or starving. God gets to Elijah’s spiritual healing, but addresses the physical first. We often do well to follow the same order.

Spiritual healing often starts with a quiet encounter

The Lord asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” a gentle rebuke, but it is also a question inviting response. God wants a conversation; he won’t shut you down. Sadly the same cannot be said of too many churches today. We need to make our communities places of safety where we can honestly raise hour real-world problems and deep-seated doubts and questions without being criticized.

Elijah answers, “I’ve zealously served the Lord God Almighty.” That’s a fair assessment, it’s okay to think well of ourselves sometimes. “But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me too.”

Psychological healing: correcting the lies we tell ourselves

Elijah’s thinking is wrong, but his emotions are never challenged. I encourage people not to directly try and change their emotions, nor to deny or suppress them. God doesn’t tell him to stop feeling sad or pretend he wasn’t afraid. The battleground is the thoughts our emotions promote, not the emotions themselves. The real conflict takes place in our minds, between truth and lies. Emotions are indicators we’re meant to notice, but we are not meant to allow them to control our thinking or behavior.

Elijah’s problem is believing that he’s on his own. This would be described by modern therapists as classic catastrophizing, and all-or-nothing thinking. I prefer to call these kinds of statements what they actually are: the lies our minds tell us.

Almost everyone who’s suffered knows what it feels like to feel alone, even if they were surrounded by people. “I’m the only one left” is a lie. But God doesn’t immediately challenge it. Sometimes we try to engage too quickly with negative thoughts before the right time. But the root of Elijah’s problem here isn’t just biological, or psychological, nor indeed is it social isolation. Elijah’s real healing starts from the spiritual encounter.

The still small voice

God says, “Come and stand before me.” How easily we forget to stand before God, and to be honest about how we’re really feeling. The Lord passes by: a mighty wind tearing rocks loose, then an earthquake, then a fire, but the Lord is not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. After the fire, a gentle whisper, or as the old translations put it, a still small voice. Elijah wraps his face in his cloak. The voice comes again: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he repeats himself: “I’m the only one left, they’re trying to kill me.”

Social healing: God gives us other people

God is not always in the dramatic. He can meet you in your room in your quietest time. But his solution is not always deeply spiritual either. God simply says, “Go back.” I’m not finished with you yet, I have more for you to do. “Anoint Hazael king of Aram and Jehu king of Israel.” Remember, I’ve called you to be the prophet who speaks to kings. We all need a purpose, through work, family, friends, or church, and sometimes purpose brings healing.

God then speaks more tenderly: “You don’t have to be alone. I have a partner for you, who one day will take your place.” This is the God who “places the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6, NLT), and who creates bonds of affection between his people, as with David and Jonathan, whose “soul was knit to the soul of David” (1 Samuel 18:1, ESV).

“Anoint Elisha to replace you as my prophet.” Your ministry isn’t over, the biggest job now is realizing you’re not on your own. As Ephesians 4 puts it, your job is to prepare others for ministry too, and training benefits the trainer as much as the trained. Elisha would prove by his devotion that Elijah really was not alone.

God also says “I will preserve 7,000 people in Israel who’ve never bowed to Baal.” God now clearly corrects the lie: Elijah isn’t alone. There’s a disciple to train, a friend to be made, a job to be done, and people to do it with.

Conclusion: God’s multifaceted grace

God graciously:

meets Elijah’s biological needs through sleep, food, and exercise
meets his psychological needs by challenging his misleading thoughts
meets his social needs through a renewed mission, new tasks, and a disciple
encounters him spiritually and shows him that he’s still with him

It doesn’t matter what chaos surrounds you, you can know the still small voice of God saying, “I love you.” Do you need to get away for a bit? Or has God got new tasks and new friends, that will give you purpose and the sense of not being alone?

Knowing God is with you makes all the difference. Jesus never promises he’ll take away all your problems, Elijah’s didn’t disappear here, but what changed is he wasn’t alone anymore.

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT).

He really is with us always, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He really is with you. You are not alone.

Subscribe through Substack for my latest thoughts and book launch team news.

For article notifications only, subscribe through Patheos.

Watch, hear, or read a longer version of this article on Substack

or find it wherever you listen to podcasts

When Life Hurts: Physical, Mental, Social, & Spiritual Pain

Video Podcast: How Faith Alone Misses Real Healing

Words of Hope for Us by John Newton

You can’t trust your eyes, your ears or The Traitor Within

General Christian

Health, Fitness and Religion

Opinion

biopsychosocial-spiritual

About Adrian Warnock

Adrian Warnock

Medical doctor · Published author · Patheos writer since 2003

I have always lived within sixty miles of London, UK where I studied, worked and worshipped for thirty years. I began writing for this Patheos blog in April 2003, making it one of the longest-running individual columns on the Christian Internet. My writing here, on Substack, and in my books is influenced by my medical training, eight years of working as a psychiatrist in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), eighteen years working in medical research in the pharmaceutical industry, twenty-five years of serving as a pastoral leader in a growing multicultural church, and a difficult decade of lived experience with chronic illness, including blood cancer, and the unexpected losses, including early retirement, that resulted.

Together, these all shape a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach which I first wrote about on Patheos in 2013. This model offers us hope, compassion, and healing in all life’s challenges. This holistic approach is based on the idea that all truth is God’s truth.

At times, since my illness, my faith has been faint. I wondered if this was the end of my story. I was not strong enough to live for Jesus the way I wanted to. I could not change myself. And then hope reminded me: The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. Just not all at once. Healing takes time. Compassion and patience sustain us over a lifetime of change. I aim to approach suffering with hope and compassion, and address tough questions including:

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for you?

Raised With Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything (Crossway, 2010; 2nd edition, Amazon, 2025)
Why is change so difficult? What causes the resistance?

The Traitor Within: Understanding and Healing Our Deceitful Hearts (Amazon, 2026)
Why is change so slow? How does grace lead us over a lifetime?

Amazing Grace: How Faith Grows in the Human Heart (Amazon, 2026)
How do you become a Christian? Can you know if you really are one?

Hope Reborn: How to Become a Christian and Live for Jesus Co-authored with Tope Koleoso (Christian Focus, 2014)

Qualifications

I qualified with an MB BS from the University of London (equivalent to an MD in the United States), hold postgraduate qualifications in psychiatry (MRCPsych) and pharmaceutical medicine (MFFM, DipPharmMed), and took theological training courses run by Newfrontiers.

Connect With me

Substack: adrianwarnock.substack.com (the best way to ask questions)
Twitter/X: @adrianwarnock
Facebook: Adrian Warnock
Email: [email protected] (I may not be able to respond to every message)

Previous Post

June 24, 2026

Whatever Happened to the Young, Restless and Reformed?

Next Post

July 8, 2026 Would a wretch like John Newton be welcome in our churches?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Atheism is no more a single worldview than theism is a single worldview. Both however ..."

Erp

Thank God Atheists Do Not Live ..."

"Athiests believe in love, most reject God because of the God depicted in the old ..."

Patrick Dennis

Thank God Atheists Do Not Live ..."

"Have a read of some history, and you will find that your views are not ..."

Adrian Warnock

Thank God Atheists Do Not Live ..."

"You act like Christians invented basic human decency. Here's a news flash: Humans thrived for ..."

EarthGrowl

Thank God Atheists Do Not Live ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Samuel" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God has heard God is my judge The Lord saves Chosen one

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »

Elijah’s Healing: Ancient Biopsychosocial-spiritual Example

The multifaceted kindness of God.

Watch the Video:

Watch, hear, or read a longer version of this article on Substack or find audio wherever you listen to podcasts

A sudden collapse

Biological healing: food, sleep, rest and exercise

Food and sleep can be life-transforming.

Spiritual healing often starts with a quiet encounter

Psychological healing: correcting the lies we tell ourselves

The still small voice

Social healing: God gives us other people

Conclusion: God’s multifaceted grace

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT).

Subscribe through Substack for my latest thoughts and book launch team news.

For article notifications only, subscribe through Patheos.

Watch, hear, or read a longer version of this article on Substack

or find it wherever you listen to podcasts

Read More

Adrian Warnock

What does the name "Samuel" mean?