Just this week when things in my world were going splendidly (which should always give us pause), there was a glitch. A wrench in the gears. A leak in the boat…You get the idea. Something unexpected and potentially catastrophic occurred. In a moment, I went from being emotionally on top of the world to the backside of the desert. I received news that made my heart turn to lead in my chest.

My first reaction was disbelief. Immediately after I realized this new turn of events was really happening, I was engulfed by a wave of negative thoughts:

I should have known it was too good to be true. I was foolish to think it would go smoothly. We’ll probably never be truly peaceful. I’ll never let myself hope like that again.

Wait. What?

Those weren’t even my thoughts. An enemy had done this. Planted tares of negativity and hopelessness into my mind, and disguised them as my own thoughts. The Holy Ghost immediately rose up in me and helped me to think Truth. He helped me to remember how the Lord had recently turned this same horrible situation into a masterpiece. He had just given us beauty for ashes, and it only took one bump in the road for us to forget. I had gone from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of despair that easily.

In the beloved children’s book, Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Anne asks Marilla, “Can’t you even IMAGINE you are in the depths of despair?”  To which Marilla abruptly replies, “No. I cannot. To despair is to turn your back on God.”

According to God’s Word, I must agree with Marilla.

 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)

If we allow ourselves to sink into despair, we definitely are not manifesting faith. Instead, we are letting negative emotions take over our thinking. When people are consumed with doubt, fear and unbelief, they cannot pray in faith. They cannot say to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea.

This is the woeful condition that satan wants to trap us in. He knows that for every second he can get us to think negatively, it is  more probable that we will speak negatively. Once we speak negatively, we set an alternate set of circumstances in motion. What blessing the Lord wanted to bring, is derailed by our careless words.

Once we speak negatively, we set an alternate set of circumstances in motion. What blessing the Lord wanted to bring, is derailed by our careless words. Click To Tweet

How do we stop this landslide of negative consequences?

RECOGNIZE
First, we must recognize the attack for what it is. A trap of the enemy. We must know enough of God’s Word to recognize the devil’s work.

REMEMBER
Second, we must remember how God has worked on our behalf in the past. When was the last prayer that God answered for us? When did we feel defeated, and yet He intervened?

REMIND
Third, we must remind ourselves of all the wonders that God has specifically done for us. We must remind ourselves that we are children of the Great King.

RESIST
Fourth, we must resist the devil, submit ourselves to God, and he will flee from us. We must resist his influence in our lives and his impression in our minds.

RETURN
Fifth, we must return to the path of faith in God. We must begin to pray with power. Begging is not mountain-moving prayer. We must pray with the spiritual authority that Jesus name permits us.

REFUSE
Sixth, we must be aware of how the enemy works, and refuse to be deceived again. We must refuse to be emotionally corralled into a trap of despair.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;”(2 Cor. 4:7-8)

Within just a few minutes of giving in to the feelings of despair, I remembered the goodness of God toward me. I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and started praying. I spoke faith-filled words in Jesus’ name until I felt them. I repented to the Lord of losing faith so quickly, and asked Him to forgive me. I committed to trust Him. After all, He has proven time and again to me that He is able to turn any situation around in a moment of time for His glory.

In case you doubted, He did it again, and He’ll do it for you! Praise God!

Warm Regards, -Pat

INVITATION TO SHARE

-Have you ever found yourself in the depths of despair even when you know God has been so good to you?

-What steps did you take to get out of that negative frame of mind?

-What scriptures would you share with someone who is struggling with despair?

As always, feel free to leave a comment, subscribe to my newsletter, and email me: Pat@PATVICK.COM.