Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble ~ Job 14:1 ESV
For we do not want you to be unaware , brothers , of the affliction we experienced in Asia . For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself . Indeed , we felt that we had received the sentence of death . But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead . He delivered us from such a deadly peril , and he will deliver us . On him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 ESV
Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day , the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag . They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it , both small and great . They killed no one , but carried them off and went their way . And when David and his men came to the city , they found it burned with fire , and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive . Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep . David ' s two wives also had been taken captive , Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel . And David was greatly distressed , for the people spoke of stoning him , because all the people were bitter in soul , each for his sons and daughters . But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God ~ 1 Samuel 30:1-6 ESV
One of the harsh realities we need to take in and understand is that no one is really exempt from the troubles of this life . Everyone has his own share . God never promised us a life without troubles and challenges , but He has promised us that He will be right there to deliver us . Yet we cannot deny the fact that there are times it just gets too much and out of control . There are times we get to a place where we are literally burdened by the affairs of life and when it becomes too much , the most likely thing that comes our way is despair .
Despair is the state of hopelessness ; deeply discouraged to the point of giving up . It ’ s the complete loss or absence of hope ; the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation .
Having walked through this path myself , I can attest to the fact that it ’ s a miracle I survived it . At some point in my life , just like Paul in the above scripture , I was ‘ burdened beyond my strength and despaired of life itself .’ And yes , I felt like I ‘ had received the sentence of death .’ There were times I honestly felt and even believed that all the forces and powers of hell , heaven and earth had come together and were busy fighting against me because everything , and I mean everything in my life fell apart , including myself . I gave up all my dreams and visions , and all my relationships crumbled right before my eyes . I was in total financial lack ; literally living like a beggar and depending on other people for survival and upkeep . I tried so many things which refused to work . It seemed like life was mocking me and every effort that I was making to move forward was being thrown back at my face , and I got tired . I got tired of trying , hoping , dreaming , expecting , fighting back , praying and of God . Was He even there ? Was He concerned about what I was going through ? I wondered and kept thinking about this until I concluded ( out of ignorance ) that God was busy helping others , but never me . So I gave up . I even remember asking myself , who really helps human beings in this life ? Eventually , I got depressed and life became a boring routine I hated to wake up and face every day . I became suicidal and the only thing that kept me away from taking my life was the fear of going to hell . I didn ’ t think that God cared that much for me , but looking at it right now , I realize that He is the one that took me through it all .
Many people in the world today , including believers , are struggling with the spirit of despair . It has consumed so many to the point of taking their own lives . It has halted , destroyed and caused abortion of many destinies . It ’ s one of the strategies that the enemy is using to bring
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