Daily Devotional
Despaired Even Of Life? – Part 1
Text: 2 Corinthians 1:8
“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life”
Message
To despair is to go into a state of the complete loss or absence of hope. It is akin to, “a voice full of self-hatred, distress, hopelessness, anguish, pain, desperation, gloom, unhappiness, dejection, depression, despondency, disconsolateness, fear, misery, melancholy, melancholia, defeatism, wretchedness, pessimism, forlornness, disheartenment, discouragement and resignedness.”
All these emotional state are because we most times get into the mindset that there’s an explanation for everything in life. Sadly, we also often treat the Bible truth in the same way. What a pity!
Let’s draw our lesson on never going into despair from Jesus our perfect example. He became the Lamb so humanity could access God’s forgiveness. Yet men convicted him of blasphemy because He was declared God’s Son. His accusers beat Him and made another man carry His cross.
Jesus was crucified on the cross between two thieves. He was ridiculed, mocked, and called King of the Jews. Others tempted Him to use His godly power to remove Himself from the cross if He was God’s Son.
Some threw insults at Jesus, while the Elders and Chief Priests who should know better mocked Him, saying He saved others but couldn’t save Himself. They also said that if He was indeed the king of Israel, He would come down from the cross so they would believe in Him. Worst, “If He trusts in God, let God rescue Him now!”
Jesus wasn’t the only one mocked; bystanders also mocked those crucified with Him, as detailed in Matthew 27:32-44.
The rest of his mockers said to leave Him alone and see if Elijah comes to save Him. When Jesus cried out again, He gave up His spirit. And glory be to God, as in response to the cry of Jesus, the Temple’s curtain ripped from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of holy people who died were raised to life, coming out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and into the sacred city, appearing to many people. Pronto, those who saw all of these things happen believed He was the Son of God!
So why in anxiety, worry, desperate and in other emotional tumor just because at one phase or the other in life you are thrown into having the shortest end of the stick which cannot hold you?
Why are you blaming others, thrown into unlimited and unending bitterness, sorrow, unforgiveness and the likes?
If you can help yourself why worry or in despair?
If you cannot help yourself why worry or in despair?
Why curse God in desperation? Have you not read of Job who said, ” Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before” (Job 13:15).
To trust is to remain confident and safe in his hands no matter the situation or circumstances of life.
Keep trusting. Jesus has not forgotten you. He can never forsake you. He will deliver you. Your joy will come again at His beautiful time. Glory be to God.