Do we look at life as a failure? Do we need to replace the “f” in life with a “v” in order to live with Victory? It is the guilt, the shame, and the regrets which are the fetters that keep us tied to a life that seems burdened.
When these fetters bind, they also begin a heavy burden of weight, which becomes heavy subconsciously. It happens quickly and without warning. It slips in like a mouse unnoticed. Disappointment, discouragement, depression and despair the four D’s of cancer, which seems to suck the happiness out of life. It comes and goes. Sometimes severe, sometimes a small doubt, and sometimes it sneaks in, and you do not know the reason why you feel the way you do today. It spreads and affects everyone around.
How do you get rid of the fetter of guilt, despair, depression, the feeling you cannot do anything right, or even forgiving yourself? Negative self-talk is destructive because one compares themselves to others and not what God has truly expressed. You are wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). The truth is always found in Christ (John 14:6).
You are not alone in your feelings. I use to be there in my life when things were not so well. David battled this battle before you and I have had the chance. His words are a chilling reflection:
Psalms 39:
O LORD, the God who saves me,
day and night I cry out before you.
May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of trouble
and my life draws near the grave.
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man without strength.
I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off from your care.
You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily upon me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves
I was then reminded when I read Psalm 40. David battled this battle before you and I did and so how did he make it? He wrote
Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
David describes it well. The slide to despair feels like a mud slide. Sometimes it feels impossible to get a foothold up. Hopeless. Helpless. Alone….or so it seems. Although nothing may have changed in the real world you feel that your world has crumbled into ashes. It’s a difficult place to be. It’s a difficult place to get out of. Unless you allow the Lord to help, we would most likely remain in the pit of despair. Some never get out and some choose substance abuse, but God does help.
He does give us the hand we need, the help we need. He does change our song from a mournful song to praise. He lifts us up. If you’re like me these slides to despair happen without warning or no reason at all. The Psalms are David’s journals as he dealt with his own frequent descents into despair. Here are his directions for those of us in the pit today-
Psalms 34
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The first step out is to be able to forgive yourself. The second step is to recognize. He will uplift you. The climb out is God’s work as we trust him. Forgiveness is the key to unlock the fetters that bind us to a world that wants to hold us back from the light of the Son.
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