SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1037

“Despair”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 43:5)

Have you ever had one of those ‘wet blanket’ days where you just feel emotionally blah? Sometimes this oppressed feeling can persist, steadily draining your vitality and hope, bringing you to the point of despair.

Repeatedly, in Psalms 42 and 43 the Sons of Korah do a self examination seeking to know the root cause of their feeling of despair. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Since despair is defined as the total loss of hope, perhaps these emotionally blah feelings we have are due to the fact that we are placing our hope in people or things of this world instead of God. The suicide rate in America has risen 25% since 1999 according to the CDC. We see big name celebrities in the news lately – people who seemingly ‘have it all’ commit suicide. Then there are the forgotten veterans with PTSD who are committing suicide at a rate of one every hour.

Our Psalmist repeatedly asks the question and repeatedly provides the solution: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Perhaps you are living a comfortable life in this world and that is a blessing from God. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

The danger here is that we begin to place our hope in the things of this world and when financial setbacks etc. occur we begin to feel despair. …if riches increase, set not your heart on them. (Psalm 62:10b) Paul also cautions us in his letter to Timothy: As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)

If you are in despair, come to Jesus and place your hope in God and in His love for you. Dark times will come but the light of the living Word of God will see you through it

…When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:18-19)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit… (Psalm 34:17-20)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13).

Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.