DEPRESSION AND DESPAIR
Those dark undercurrents of desperate emotions that drag us down into the murky shad-
ows 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 Kings
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 Corinthians 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.” (Psalm 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.” (John 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.” (Isaiah 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 Ephesians 6:10-20)