Overcome Despair Through Faith

By Angie Lewis

Have you ever taken God’s blessings for granted? We have all done it. Is it because we lack the faith to believe that our blessings come from God? Why do we sometimes feel discouraged and alone? Some of us can get so discouraged in life that we wallow in a pity-pot of despair for days. But this attitude keeps us from recognizing the goodness of God working in our lives. When blessings come our way we don’t recognize it and this keeps us faithless in how we put our blessings to work!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

It’s easy to do – we become so wrapped up within self that we leave God on third base, but we’re not even on the baseball field anymore! We need to always remember to allow God to be involved in what we’re doing in our lives, as believers we belong to Him. That means He is our Guide – He is our Counselor – He is our Refuge.

What happens is we get discouraged and we allow our attitude to pull us down into the pit of despair. But we should allow God to lead us where He wants to take us. The truth is, we like to lead ourselves, and sometimes our rein leads us into the darkness where despair lives. Why are we wallowing in a wrong attitude? Why are we stuck in pit of despair? Have you ever been there? Where is our faithfulness?

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2

God, please help me out of this darkness I have led myself into. Please guide me with your wisdom filled counsel and take away the despair that has filled my heart and made me live my life through my own understanding rather than your wonderful and awesome Counsel.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelations 3:20

God tells us to shake off despair and throw it out the window for good. There is no room for despair to take precedent over our lives. We must never take our merciful, loving Creator out of our lives; it is only through Him and His wonderful precepts that we find peace and happiness in a world full of discouragement and despair. God says He will deliver us from our fears - we must believe that with faith.

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13

Let me tell you a little secret. Did you know that when we stop trying to control circumstances and issues in our life, that are beyond our control, and when we stop trying to lead our life the way we want, God blesses us more and more with His wisdom and knowledge? That’s right! He really does. So how can this be so, you might wonder?

Well, it is through our personal faith we have with God that shows just how much we trust Him with our lives. So in retrospect, the more we trust in God for our sustenance the more He gives to us. It’s like a chain reaction. We are faithful and God gives us more faith. Without faith it would be impossible for us to please God our Father.

And without faith is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

How many times in your day-to-day living have you based your thoughts and actions on your own understanding and knowledge of what you think is right? Every day, right? We all do it – it is easy to do. We need to earnestly seek God and invite him in to eat with us. Do you have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to help you in your despair? Remember all we have to do is open the door – He is standing on the other side and He knows what you need.

But how many times, because we can’t see God, and we can’t hear God, we have doubts about our faith and end up seeking a solution to our problems by our own faith rather than praying for what we need? God wants us to ask Him for what we need, even though He already knows what we need before we ask, He wants you to ask Him because you have faith in knowing He will guide you in the way you should go. The key to our abundance in life is faith.

We live by faith, not by sight.
II Corinthians 5:7