Despair can be devastating.  When you are in a situation that is hard to bear, and you don’t see the situation changing, that to me is the definition of despair.

I have some dear friends who have had financial difficulties for years, even decades.  They don’t see how they can possibly get out of their financial hole, and because they can’t see how, they often despair.

So why does God let us despair?  Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 1:8-98:

“We do not want you to be uninformed about the hardships we endured in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

I have certainly found this to be true in my own life.  Only after complete despair comes the realization that I should be leaning not on my own understanding, but trusting in Christ.  I always regret it when I turn to God as a last resort, rather than as a first choice!

How able are you to turn from despair?  Do you have Christian friends who can help you along the way?

I would love to hear your story.

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