OVERCOMING DESPAIR NOW AND FOREVER
The biblical Word of God says: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But it asks, “Why are you cast down [in despair]?” (Psalm 42:11). Whatever your reason for despair, you should “hope in God;” for our Savior and Lord God, Jesus Christ, has “overcome the world” (Psalm 43:5; John 3:16; John 16:33)
OVERCOMING DESPAIR OF TRIALS THAT GOD ALLOWS
The Bible- book of Job tells us God allowed his faithful servant Job to be tried and afflicted by Satan (the devil) to show Job’s dedication to God. Satan was not allowed to take Job’s life, but he took Job’s property–killed his children–turned his wife against him–afflicted his body with sores–and caused his friends to falsely accuse him of suffering for being unfaithful to God.
Despite being in great pain and despair. Job said:
I know that my redeemer[a] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes (Job 19:25-27).
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
The Bible says: “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
OVERCOMING DESPAIR FROM REAPING WHAT YOU SOW
King David is an example of despairing after God discipled him for sinning. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. After he discovered she was pregnant with his child , he had her husband Uriah killed to cover up his sins. But God told David through his prophet, “You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own…Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 11-12:10-11).
David confessed, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). David deserved to die according to God’s Law (Deuteronomy 19:21); but because of God’s love and mercy, he informed David, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die” 2 Samuel 12:13).
When David wrote about his soul being “cast down” as he did in Psalm 42nd, his state of despaired was apparently related to consequences of his sins. For the Word of God says, “ A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6-7).
However, in dealing with his despair, he encouraged his soul: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
The Bible teaches us that “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son…No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:6-11).
David learned: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn [God’s] decrees” (Psalm 119:71). And though one may be in despair resulting from sin; “ If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
OVERCOMING DESPAIR NOW AND FOREVER
The Bible shows that we are all subject to despair as a result of trials, temptations and tribulations in this world. However we should remember that the Word of God says:
- We all have sinned and deserve to die, but God has sacrificed his Son Jesus Christ to die to atone for the sins of all who repent and believe in his atonement (Romans 3:23; 6:23Acts 2:38).
- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
- If we repent and confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19).
- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Roman 8:35).
- There hath no temptation [ tribulation]taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
- The Lord God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
- Our Savior-Lord-God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us overcome all our problems (John 14:15-17).
As believers, we need not despair in this life. And even when we face death, we need not despair, for God shall resurrect us who believe in his Son Jesus Christ, as he raised our crucified Lord and Savior from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Romans 8:11).
Finally, God shall wipe away all tears from eyes of his people; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4).
