I Alone Am Left: Battling Discouragement

In this episode, host Rev. Chris Gordon is joined by Rev. Dan Borvan from Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim to tackle a deeply sensitive yet common struggle: discouragement and depression within the Christian walk. Many believers mistakenly place Old Testament saints on unreachable pedestals, forgetting that they were ordinary humans who shared our exact nature. By looking closely at the life of the prophet Elijah, AGR examines how quickly a season of massive spiritual victory can spiral down into severe isolation and despair.

Chapters:
0:00 - Cold Open: "Depression Can Get So Bad"
1:16 - Studio Banter: LA Baseball Rivalries
3:44 - Introducing Today's Topic: Discouragement
5:05 - Elijah, an Ordinary Prophet, and the Mount Carmel Victory
9:47 - 1 Kings 19: Jezebel's Death Threat
10:29 - Elijah Runs in Fear
13:18 - The Slow Drift of Discouraged Christians
16:47 - Under the Broom Tree: "Take My Life"
18:19 - Real Christians Get Depressed Too
21:13 - The Angel's Care: Body and Soul
24:35 - Gospel, Not Law, for the Weary
26:07 - At Horeb: "What Are You Doing Here, Elijah?"
29:29 - Trusting the Word Over Visible Results
31:03 - Wind, Earthquake, Fire, and the Still Small Voice
39:40 - Recommissioned: Purpose, Elisha, and the Cross

Guest Information:
Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is the pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim. He earned his Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology from Westminster Seminary California in 2011, writing his thesis paper on Faustus Socinus.

- Dan on X: @danborvan
- Dan's Church: christreformed.org

Mentions:

- 1 Kings 18 & 19
- The Prophet Elijah
- 2 Timothy 3 (All Scripture is profitable...)
- James (Nature of Elijah)
- Mount Carmel Showdown
- Baal & Prophets of Baal
- King Ahab & Queen Jezebel
- Pastor Ewong (Chinese Reformed Church)
- Dante's Inferno (Ninth ring of hell metaphor)
- Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs

Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. Daniel earned his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary California in 2011. As a student at Westminster Seminary he learned that all study of Scripture, theology, and church history is put into practice in the worship and work of the church. The goal is to glorify Christ by serving His church. At Westminster Seminary he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology. His thesis paper was on Faustus Socinus.

Daniel is chairman of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. Some of his published articles are on the Heidelblog website. Daniel was installed as pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church, September 29, 2023. Daniel is married to Marcy and they have two daughters and a son.

x: danborvan