The Initiative Against Despair
Feb 18, 2021 at 6:38 AM
Get up! Let us go. (Matthew 26:46, NIV)
Jesus was about to suffer. His closest disciples were supposed to stay alert in spirit and body at this crucial and sacred moment, praying with Him. But they fell asleep from exhaustion.
If I had been among the disciples, I imagine I’d spend my entire life feeling deep regret, despair, and being unforgivable for “falling asleep in Gethsemane.”
Honestly, I don’t need to be in Gethsemane; there’s often such despair in my own life.
The things I “promised” to God during fervent prayers, I can’t follow through. The things the Holy Spirit has reminded and moved me about, I don’t want to do or can’t do. Knowing what is good and right, yet can’t carry it out…
“Things I ought to do but can’t,” first leads me to self-blame, hating my own weakness and powerlessness. Then, it’s self-condemnation for not keeping my promises to God, for not meeting His expectations.
So, I bind myself with despair, trapped in it. At first, I have no face, no strength to turn to God. Gradually, my heart hardens, I evade God, leave God. This is truly Satan’s deception.
Thank Jesus. At the moment of disciples’ despair, He says, “Get up! Let us go.”
His words, His grace, released the disciples from the shame and despair of “falling asleep.” I believe He can release me from despair too.
Brother Oswald Chambers said, “Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.”
Thank God:
Thank God for His protection, for safely passing through the Spring Festival period, and for maintaining a life of faith. Thankful for sharing meals and visiting with my brothers and sisters in church;
Thank God for helping my daughter face someone she didn’t like. She prayed about it before God, and it changed her heart and mind. After praying, she was completely transformed, she felt relieved. I think, this is truth setting us free. At the time, I asked her, were you relieved after prayer? She said, yes;
Thank God for guiding me to create six paintings on the themes of Psalms. I enjoyed it and want to continue pursuing this;