I recently
came across this definition of despair from the Catholic Encyclopedia:
“Despair, ethically regarded, is the voluntary and complete abandonment of all hope of saving one’s soul and of having the
means required for that end. It is not a passive state of mind: on the contrary it involves a positive act of the will by which a person deliberately gives
over any expectation of ever reaching eternal life” (http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3797).
While that may be true in a few cases, I don’t believe it
applies to most people who would characterize their current life as
“despairing.” Even David and Paul spoke of despair in ways that had nothing to
do with the loss of the soul (Psalm 69:20; 2 Corinthians 1:8 and 4:8).
I’ve also seen despair described as the determined doubt or
denial of God’s character and ability. I think that definition misses the boat
for most folks as well. I can only speak from my own experience, but my times
of despair are mostly doubts that anything will improve and doubts of my own
ability to endure. I have no doubt that God is in control and that He cares how
I feel and what I experience. I don’t know how much free will God actually
attributes to us, but it’s the choices that I control that scare me, not the
part that God controls.
That actually leads
me to a greater appreciation of God’s sovereignty. If He is ultimately in
control, then I can trust that He will preserve and sustain me through whatever
trials He allows in my life. If He knows my thoughts and has numbered my days
as Psalm 139 says, then He knows the limits of my endurance and He can either
remove the trials in time or He can further strengthen me by His grace.
“Love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord
preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be
strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” (Psalm
31:23-24 ESV).
“As for You, O Lord, You will not
restrain Your mercy from me; Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11).
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and
He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm
55:22).
Minister, author, and hymn writer John Newton wrote the
following in his published
letters:
“Your sister is much upon my mind.
Her illness grieves me: were it in my power I would quickly remove it: the Lord
can, and I hope will, when it has answered the end for which he sent it… I wish
you may be enabled to leave her, and yourself, and all your concerns, in his
hands. He has a sovereign right to do with us as he pleases; and if we consider
what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain: and to
those who seek him, his sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall
work together for good; everything is needful that he sends; nothing can be
needful that he withholds” (166).
It seems to me that it is possible to have hope in the midst
of despair, or perhaps it’s a matter of semantics. Desperation in this life
leads to greater hope in the life to come, as well as greater faith in the One
who holds all things together.
“Now to Him who is
able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the
presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time
and now and forever. Amen.” –Jude 24-25
