Dark Cloud of Despair and Discouragement

Jennifer’s post yesterday was awesome! She brought good news and liberation for any of us who suffer from discouragement. And as one who can ever so often rise from his bed with a little dark cloud of despair, I was so grateful. What she did in her post was deflate the hot air of deception in a pervasive lie that plagues God’s children—it’s all hopeless.

Despair and Discouragement

Though it isn’t common, I can still get down in the dumps. Something will just trip a breaker in my head and I will sink into despair. It can be minor or major but the through-line of the demonic discourse is, “It’s absolutely impossible!” It’s like Satan hog-ties my faith and brings in discouragement.

The liberating message Jennifer brought was that if it’s mine to do and God has called it to be, then He has given me everything needed to perform it. His Life is up to His decrees! In Jennifer’s example, her friend was made a father, hence he had the provision to BE a father. God doesn’t torment us and demand what He Himself isn’t willing to supply. So if I am called, then He has provided.

Now, if you have read this blog for any length of time you know that I firmly believe that what He provides is His own Life, not a bag of tools to do it on my own—“Go get ‘em, Tiger!” No, if I have been made a father, He will be a Father in me. As I’ve said, “Christ’s Life as my life is His Life in my life, and that’s not my life as His Life.”

The Silver Lining of Despair and Discouragement

The amazing news here is that all this discouragement is a lie with a silver lining. The hopelessness is real. I am completely unable to do it. It will never get done by me. BUT He will! His Life can and will perform His requirements of my life. I need not despair of the impossibility of the tasks, because He is what I need. I have just to believe that His Life is all I need and He is up to the job!

The silver lining of this little dark cloud is that I will finally despair of self as source. When I am no longer the focus of my performance, then I will hopefully look to the real Source, Who is able. This transaction is so valid and needful to relinquish my demands on the self to be the supply of my life.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Gal. 2:20

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3

The next time I become discouraged by the huge impossibility of any task God calls me to do, I pray I lean into the Source of my supply. May I call on Him to BE what He requests, rather than caving in under the weight of discouragement simply because I can’t do it.