Don’t despair!
Many years ago, my family and I were going through a perfect storm of financial, relationship and emotional challenges. We ran into locked doors, missed opportunities and unmet goals. Things that had worked in the past, were not working for us now and we felt like giving up.
In the midst of our troubles, my youngest brother came over to our house and began to pray for us. I don’t remember all of his prayer but what has remained was, “Don’t despair, Mr. Fair.” Soon after his prayer, God began to work miraculously in our situations. Blessings came one after another. Since then, whenever I run into problems, I first remember not to despair.
The Bible tells the story of King Saul, the leader of the Israelites, who fought many successful battles against his enemies because God was on his side. However, when Saul began to disobey God, the Israelites began to lose. Saul became frustrated and cried in despair (1 Samuel 28:3-22) because he felt God had abandoned him in these critical battles. Instead of seeking the Lord, he turned to forbidden help and brought disaster upon his nation, his family and himself. In contrast, the Bible also tells of King David who had the unfortunate situation of being attacked by his enemies and having his soldier’s wives and children taken into captivity. However, David spoke triumphantly and encouraged himself even though everything was going wrong around him. Without him lifting a finger, God delivered the captives.
We have a choice today. We can throw in the towel and give up or we can encourage ourselves in the Lord. We can despair or we can turn to prayer. Let us not despair, worry or fret but let us declare the triumphant word of the Lord over any challenges the day may bring!
1 Samuel 30:6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
Psalm 27:13 New International Version (NIV)
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
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