Don’t Despair

The older I get; the more meaningful the Christmas season is to me.  Thou my heart stirs with joy and I would love to chat on good holiday cheer, I can’t ignore those that hurt and are crushed in despair.  

Just a few days ago, another famous public figure took his life.  

Christmas to me is a reminder of my deliverance from fear and despair. 

I celebrate his birth because he didn’t just come to pay the price for our sins or secure our spot in eternity.  He came that we may live life to the fullest, here and now. 

Now obviously, that doesn’t necessarily mean living your best life in luxury and ease. It definitely means abundance of perfect peace and joy on the inside.  

Jesus said,

… the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. (John 18:37)

He came to deliver words of truth that would be medicine for broken hearts. Words that would carry hope, healing, and life to those that hear them. 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. (John 16:33KJV)

Acts 16 provides a detailed illustration of how the word applied to what seamed hopeless, turns into rejoicing.  Here are a few selections 

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself!...

…Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house….

..then immediately he and all his household were baptized…

The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (vs 27-34)

The jailor felt so hopeless, he was ready to take his life.  But words of truth set him free and replaced fear and despair with joy to the fullest.  

I am reminded of a time I too, went through a season of hopelessness.  A combination of many undesirable life events has caused me to despair.

 When we go through these moments in life, we are vulnerable prey for the enemy to attack.   

He began to attack my mind with added lies and fears.  I attempted to ignore them the best I can.   But I wasn’t set free until I surrendered all my attempts to battle them on my own.  I earnestly began to search for answers in his word.

My prayer was simply, "Lord I can’t do this on my own, I need direction out of your word".  And he began to show me things out of the word, I never saw there before.  Every lie the enemy attempted to throw at me was combatted with the word of truth.  My only way of defense was a daily fresh portion of his word.  

Thou at first it felt like a constant, endless battle.  Truth after truth has entirely healed and restored my heart.   

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32)

Supporting Text

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God (Ps. 46:4)

I have given Your word to them…( John 17:14)

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (Ps. 119:165)