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Feel Despar? I Am Here


There is a looming sense of despair hanging over many brothers and sisters in Christ. Despite the joviality on Sundays, and the dedication on social media and elsewhere, there are those who are reaching a tipping point. Many feel as Christian in the Pilgrim's Progress, a follower of Christ imprisoned by the Giant Despair (John Bunyan). Despair is the worst demon in the air. It is said by the Apostle Paul himself, "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself." (2 Corinthians 1:8). The Webster's dictionary says despair is: "1) utter lose of hope, 2) the state of being discouraged and 3) to lose heart." The Apostle Paul is saying to us that in Asia, He and the other disciples were tested to the point of losing their zeal to live. This is not akin to the Apostle's other admonition that he would rather repose and go to be with Jesus than remain alive (Phillippians 1:21-23), or the famous, "For me live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). No this despair drove the apostle and his compatriots to the brink. The brink of sanity, and the will to live. Many right now are held captive to depression, despair, and despondence. Many vital and devout brothers and sisters in Christ find themselves at the point of "beyond the strength to endure." 

Our comfort is that the Apostle Paul, the great evangelist to the Gentiles and one who received an abundance of revelations (see Philippians 3:8-15) found himself in Asia unable to endure. But then the answer came, "Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9). Deep in the throes of death and despair, the Apostle saw God the Trinity manifest his power and save them from certain doom, "He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." (2 Corinthians 1:10). The Lord Jesus delivers us from our despair and throe of death. Right now I hear Christ saying unto you, "I Am Here," and "caste your cares on me." (1 Peter 5:7), and "caste you despair on me." 

How often do we in our tribulation, in our despair and depression do we shirk from our gracious, kind, and loving Lord? When in actuality we should rush into His loving arms through worship (singing either new songs, songs from our hearts, or a worship song we know), praying, and laying there in His arms spiritually. The Giant Despair is clubbing many Christians to death, hoping they lose hope. This emissary of the evil one is hard at work to break our endurance; but we shall be delivered! Our Lord and God Jesus Christ along with His Father and the Holy Spirit is there for us: The Great I AM says to you, "I AM Here," even if you cannot feel Him in that moment. I recently experienced the Road of Asia, despair beyond compare. It was as a mighty torrent of rain combined with a giant wielding a club beating my soul until it bruised. In that hour, I did not think of the Apostle's words, nor did I recite some great prayer, instead the door out of despair was an encounter with Christ, the I AM that I AM was there in many forms: worship, a preacher's words, and beyond. Christ manifested Himself in speaking to my heart, mind, and through others; and slowly despair's net was cut by Word of God and the sword of His mouth (Revelation 19:11-16). 

Jesus is there is His tender mercy to take our broken and shattered selves. Despair the giant wants to destroy us, but he will draw us near to the Lord Jesus as the Apostle Paul realized in His Asia Trial, "Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9). Despair forces us to trust in God our Savior, to lay in His arms and trust He will get us through our ordeal. Feel despair? know that He is here. The Lord Jesus lives in you (1 John 4:15 and Colossians 1:27). Do not fear, for He is near to you in your despair, and in this trial you shall find revival through the storm. Amen. 

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