We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. (2 Corinthians 1:8)
Did you know that believers get down and depressed? I certainly know this by way of personal experience. Yet, some people mistakenly think that after their conversion, depression should be as far as the east is from the west, as if they are now immune to depression, despair, and despondency. In our passage of Scripture, we read that the great apostle Paul despaired even of life. If Paul got down, it should not surprise us that we too get down at times. But like Paul, we have all that we need in Jesus to deal with our down so that we are never out! Here are just three truths to lift you out of the ashes of defeat:
- Jesus Is For You
If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
- Jesus is With You
I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
- Jesus is In You
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Like Paul, we are all given to times of depression, despair, and despondency. We are not perfected yet and won’t be until we cross the Jordan. Until that day, there will be circumstances in life that will come up against us in surprising ways. When that happens, we need to remember to keep our focus on Christ, not our circumstances. When we do, we will be reminded that Jesus is for us, with us, and in us.
Remember, regardless of what you are facing today, those three truths will help you rise above the waves of challenge. And when you find yourself in times of depression, despair, and despondency, remember you are only down, but you are never out. As Paul also said, “We are cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9).
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 