What causes us to reach a point of despair? - Despair - TouchPoints

1 Samuel 28:16-19Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites.”

Isaiah 59:2-5It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Isaiah 59:9So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.

Ezekiel 12:19“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says . . .: They will eat their food with trembling and sip their water in despair, for their land will be stripped bare because of their violence.’”

Lamentations 1:20Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you. In the streets the sword kills, and at home there is only death.

Matthew 27:3-5When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

Alienation from God due to a lifestyle of sin without remorse quickly causes us to lose hope. The farther we move from the God of hope, the closer we move to hopelessness and despair.

Psalm 25:16Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.

Human beings were created for relationship, specifically a relationship with God. When we do not have that relationship, we feel a terrible emptiness and loneliness that we cannot fill no matter how hard we try.

Job 7:6“My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope.”

Job 17:11“My days are over. My hopes have disappeared. My heart’s desires are broken.”

Lamentations 3:18I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!”

Luke 16:23-31He [the rich man] went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. The rich man shouted, “Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.” But Abraham said to him, “Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there”

Ultimately, hope depends on our certainty about the future. If we cut ourselves off from God, we cut ourselves off from the One who knows the future. Losing sight of the future we have in God leads us to uncertainty, which ultimately can only end in despair.

2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.

Embarrassment, disappointment and disgrace are powerful emotions that can lead us down a dark path if we let them. When we perceive that we have lost dignity, respect, or self-esteem, it is easy to lose hope, which leads to despair.

Numbers 11:10-15Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? . . . Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”

Heavy burdens and responsibilities weigh us down and wear us out. When burdens seem too heavy, they probably are. Don’t be afraid ask God and other people for help. We were never meant to carry our burdens alone.

Psalm 35:12They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.

Psalm 69:20Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.

Ephesians 3:13So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Other people can have a powerful influence over how we feel. Some people lift us up, but others constantly put us down, bringing us to despair.

Psalm 40:11-12Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.

Jonah 1:5Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.

Acts 27:20The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

Sometimes it can seem like the troubles and trials in our lives are too much for us, bringing despair.