Hope for Despair

~ by Michael Klassen

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. — Psalm 42:5–6a NIV

Lord God, I feel enveloped in darkness and despair. Who do I turn to? Where do I go from here? In this dark hour, I hold fast to You. You are my only hope (Psalm 39:7). I rest myself completely in Your goodness, faithfulness, and love.

I cling tenaciously to the promise in Your Word:

 

With confidence I can say that You are working everything together for good. I will place my hope in God, and I look forward to the day when I will praise You for the fulfillment of Your promises (Psalm 42:5). My hope rests solidly in you (Psalm 39:7). Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

You redeem my life from the pit and crown me with love and compassion (Psalm 103:4). You can redeem even my despair:

Not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. — Romans 5:3–5 NKJV

Lord God, when my hope is in You, I can’t help but draw closer to You; I can’t help but grow deeper in maturity; I can’t help but sense a greater outpouring of Your Holy Spirit in my life. Open my eyes to the eternal lessons You are teaching me (Romans 15:4).

Lord, please give me a vision of You standing with me in the middle of my despair. Lift me out of the muck and mire and into the heavenly places and clothe me with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

I know Your desire is to free me from my discouragement because Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

Excerpted with permission from Battle Prayers by Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling, copyright Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling.

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Your Turn

Are you battling despair today? Remember that God is working all things out for your good right now! It may not look like it or feel like it, but He has promised that so it is true. Rest in that today. Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you. ~ Devotionals Daily