Good Morning!
DEPRESSION and DESPAIR: Those dark undercurrents of desperate emotions that drag us down into the murky shadows of hopelessness and despondency.
The bad news is that every follower of Christ seems to be subjected from time to time to this state of gloom…this so-called “Dark Night of the Soul:”
Job, while languishing near death cried out, “May the day of my birth perish…I despise my life…my days have no meaning.” (Job 3:3a;7:16)
Elisha, after a great spiritual victory lamented, “I have had enough, Lord…take my life.” (I King. 19:5)
Paul, while suffering intense hardship in Asia, wrote, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death…” (II Cor. 1:8,9a)
Today, if you are in the midst of one of these “Dark Nights of the Soul”, consider and claim God’s promises from His word. Keep in mind however, that with most promises there is a condition for us to fulfill:
- Promise: “Even in darkness light dawns for the
Condition: upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.” (Psa. 112:4) - Promise: “I am the Light of the world.
Condition: Whoever follows Me - Promise: will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12)
Condition:“…If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, - Promise: then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isa. 58:10, 11)
Because DEPRESSION and DESPAIR are tools the Enemy often uses in his attacks against Christ’s followers, it is imperative that we fight back with God’s spiritual arsenal, which includes the word of God. So claim His promises, fulfill the word’s conditions, and then see Him win the victory on your behalf. (See Eph. 6:10-20)
My prayer is that you are having a great week!