Despair is the Opposite of Hope .
Isaiah 19:20 KJV

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Psalm 40:17

As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!

I’ve been a bit of a funk the past few weeks—not depressed, really, just feeling not quite at rest in my soul. I know some of the reason is that my daughter was married recently and life has settled back into somewhat of a routine—no more spreadsheets and to do lists for the wedding! More time to ponder the state of things now! Also my son is growing up and at nineteen will be leaving for some special training and schooling in a few months. That means he’ll be independent and capable of existing without me!

I identified the other day the reason for my funk: I’m disappointed. Disappointed in the world, in the public school system that didn’t give my son the support and guidance he should have had, disappointed with the field of presidential candidates, disappointed with the local government, disappointed with the seeming moral decline of society, and well . . . I’m just plain disappointed in everything! Well, I’m not disappointed in myself or my family. Hmmm. Looks like I’m disappointed in all those things out of my control.

I shared with some friends last night that I am keeping watch over myself that my disappointment doesn’t turn into despair. Of course, I don’t think that will really happen. Despair is an absence of hope and I am ever hopeful because of Christ. I know that may sound a bit trite but it’s true. In times like these, I do call out to God continually. I ask that He reveal to me what is next for my life. I pray about what I am to do now. I’ve spent the last 22 years being a mother before all else; doing the business of mothering before anything else.

As for the world . . . I guess I’ve been too busy lately to fully grasp the disappointing state of affairs! When I checked dictionary.com for disappointment I found the words sadness and disillusionment. I think those are better descriptors of what I’m feeling. I know – everything is going relatively well in my life! I’m going to try to figure out what I can do to feel more empowered and to make a difference regarding all the disappointing situations in the world.

As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God! I know I must wait for God to reveal what’s next. I just don’t like to wait! Enough whining for today! I am truly ever hopeful! I am impatient for the day Christ comes again in glory. Until then, I’m just going to have to do whatever I can to hasten that day!

My prayer today is that you cry unto the Lord—the source of all hope, the Great One, the Deliverer. And that you pray about what you can do to bring about a world worthy of the second coming.

Mary

Labels: deliverer, despair, disappointment, help, hope

  ¶ 8:54 AM