Have you ever felt like you were at the end of your rope? In other words, have you ever felt such a deep despair and that there was absolutely no way out? I know that I have felt this many times in my life. As a matter of fact, there are many times in my life when I would cry out exactly how the Psalmist put it in Psalm 88 when he said darkness was his only companion. I know that feeling all too well. What do you do in these moments of despair? Do you cry out to God or do you clam up and refuse to speak to Him? If you're like my younger self, you probably resort to self-harm or isolation. Or maybe you choose to fight people instead. However you choose to handle your emotion of despair, there are answers in the Bible of which if we seriously believe them, our whole perspective should radically change. What are these biblical answers you ask? In this blog, I shall explain what the Bible has to say concerning our darkest moments. First, I would like to say that these promises are not a magical cure-all. If you are dealing with chronic depression, then you may need to see a psychiatrist or a therapist because your depression will not go away overnight. However, if you truly take these promises to heart, they will greatly help make your depression much more bearable. For the sake of this blog, I will separate my answers into four categories. They are the following:
1) God's Faithful Presence
2) Overcoming Trials
3) Endurance
4) All Things Work For Good
I will elaborate on each of these points, but I would like to say that these are not the only promises the Bible has to offer those of us who are in a dark place. These are just the main points I would like to focus on. If you can think of any more, please feel free to comment below. Now, I will elaborate on these points.
God's Faithful Presence
One of the most profound promises I have found to help during dark times is concerning God's faithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us,
"If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself"
Did you notice what I noticed about this text? Even if we are unfaithful to Him, He remains faithful to us. This is an extraordinary promise to get hold of in our minds. I know for me this truth has helped tremendously because I know I fail Him daily. It helps me to know that even when I fail, the Lord is still on my side. Another promise comes from Hebrews 13:5 which says,
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'"
The writer of the Hebrews is essentially telling us not to worry about material possessions because God has promised to always be there for us. We do not need to worry about what we will eat or drink or even how we will get our medication because He is our provider. It is for this very reason that Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 that we can "cast our anxieties onto him".
Overcoming Trials
This truth is truly remarkable as well. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us,
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, that you will be able to endure it"
There are a couple of points you should draw from this text. The first one is that no matter what you are currently going through, it is perfectly normal because everyone goes through something similar. This means that you are not some kind of freak of nature. Whatever you may be experiencing, it is a guarantee that other people have experienced the same thing. I find this very comforting to know because all too often I feel like my problems are unique to me and no one else will understand. It is for this reason that we should never be afraid to go to our brothers and sisters in the faith for help. The devil tries to keep us from doing this by telling us a lie that no one will understand. The second point we can draw from this text is that God will not allow our trials to overcome us. He knows our frame and this is the reason why He knows exactly how much we can handle. I understand that at the moment we may feel like it is more than we can bear, but this is why we need to trust His word over our feelings. Emotions are fickle because they come and go, but God's word stands true forever. He understands what we are going through and He will give us the strength to persevere. I heard it once said that God gives trials to His toughest soldiers and I firmly believe this sentiment. We are all a lot tougher than we give ourselves credit for. Finally, the third thing we can pull from this text is that no matter what we are going through God always provides a way out. We may not know at the moment what that form of escape looks like, but if we continue trusting in the Lord's sovereignty, He will make it clear to us. After the way is clear, our choice is to take it.
Endurance
This truth is probably the toughest truth for us to hear when we are in terrible times, but it is something we must always keep in mind. Romans 5:3-5 tells us,
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"
I know it may sound hard to fathom that we should rejoice in our sufferings, right? However, when we are trusting in the Lord and we understand that He is faithful to the end and that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but instead provide a way of escape, how could we do anything but rejoice? According to this text, our suffering is not for no purpose either. Our suffering is producing endurance and character in us. I've heard it once said that when a refiner refines gold, he holds the gold right in the center of the flame. He does this so that the hottest point in the fire will cleanse off all the dross and purify the gold. In the same way, God will hold us in the center of our trials to purify us. It may feel nice or comfortable in the moment, but in the end, we will come out looking holy unto the Lord. Also, just like the refiner never lets go of the gold while it is in the fire, God will never let go of us either.
All Things Work For Good
I know that this truth may sting in some people's ears because they cannot fathom how what they are going through will work out for their good. However, Romans 8:28 does tell us,
"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
I used to not understand this text myself because I could grasp how certain life events would work out for my good. As a matter of fact, a couple years ago, as I lay in a hospital bed for three months, I almost lost my faith in God. However, the Lord kept reminding me of this verse and today I can stand before you a new man. It was because of the suffering I endured that I was able to get off some medication that I was on and my relationship with God and my wife is more intimate than ever. I also no longer have an ileostomy bag either. God was truly faithful to me during my darkest moment and He will be faithful to you as well. You just have to take Him at His word and believe that somehow some way whatever you are going through it will all work out for your good.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope that the Lord uses this to give you some encouragement. No matter what you are experiencing right now these truths are yours to keep. God's Word cannot be broken because God cannot lie. May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
1) God's Faithful Presence
2) Overcoming Trials
3) Endurance
4) All Things Work For Good
I will elaborate on each of these points, but I would like to say that these are not the only promises the Bible has to offer those of us who are in a dark place. These are just the main points I would like to focus on. If you can think of any more, please feel free to comment below. Now, I will elaborate on these points.
God's Faithful Presence
One of the most profound promises I have found to help during dark times is concerning God's faithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us,
"If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself"
Did you notice what I noticed about this text? Even if we are unfaithful to Him, He remains faithful to us. This is an extraordinary promise to get hold of in our minds. I know for me this truth has helped tremendously because I know I fail Him daily. It helps me to know that even when I fail, the Lord is still on my side. Another promise comes from Hebrews 13:5 which says,
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'"
The writer of the Hebrews is essentially telling us not to worry about material possessions because God has promised to always be there for us. We do not need to worry about what we will eat or drink or even how we will get our medication because He is our provider. It is for this very reason that Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 that we can "cast our anxieties onto him".
Overcoming Trials
This truth is truly remarkable as well. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us,
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, that you will be able to endure it"
There are a couple of points you should draw from this text. The first one is that no matter what you are currently going through, it is perfectly normal because everyone goes through something similar. This means that you are not some kind of freak of nature. Whatever you may be experiencing, it is a guarantee that other people have experienced the same thing. I find this very comforting to know because all too often I feel like my problems are unique to me and no one else will understand. It is for this reason that we should never be afraid to go to our brothers and sisters in the faith for help. The devil tries to keep us from doing this by telling us a lie that no one will understand. The second point we can draw from this text is that God will not allow our trials to overcome us. He knows our frame and this is the reason why He knows exactly how much we can handle. I understand that at the moment we may feel like it is more than we can bear, but this is why we need to trust His word over our feelings. Emotions are fickle because they come and go, but God's word stands true forever. He understands what we are going through and He will give us the strength to persevere. I heard it once said that God gives trials to His toughest soldiers and I firmly believe this sentiment. We are all a lot tougher than we give ourselves credit for. Finally, the third thing we can pull from this text is that no matter what we are going through God always provides a way out. We may not know at the moment what that form of escape looks like, but if we continue trusting in the Lord's sovereignty, He will make it clear to us. After the way is clear, our choice is to take it.
Endurance
This truth is probably the toughest truth for us to hear when we are in terrible times, but it is something we must always keep in mind. Romans 5:3-5 tells us,
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"
I know it may sound hard to fathom that we should rejoice in our sufferings, right? However, when we are trusting in the Lord and we understand that He is faithful to the end and that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but instead provide a way of escape, how could we do anything but rejoice? According to this text, our suffering is not for no purpose either. Our suffering is producing endurance and character in us. I've heard it once said that when a refiner refines gold, he holds the gold right in the center of the flame. He does this so that the hottest point in the fire will cleanse off all the dross and purify the gold. In the same way, God will hold us in the center of our trials to purify us. It may feel nice or comfortable in the moment, but in the end, we will come out looking holy unto the Lord. Also, just like the refiner never lets go of the gold while it is in the fire, God will never let go of us either.
All Things Work For Good
I know that this truth may sting in some people's ears because they cannot fathom how what they are going through will work out for their good. However, Romans 8:28 does tell us,
"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
I used to not understand this text myself because I could grasp how certain life events would work out for my good. As a matter of fact, a couple years ago, as I lay in a hospital bed for three months, I almost lost my faith in God. However, the Lord kept reminding me of this verse and today I can stand before you a new man. It was because of the suffering I endured that I was able to get off some medication that I was on and my relationship with God and my wife is more intimate than ever. I also no longer have an ileostomy bag either. God was truly faithful to me during my darkest moment and He will be faithful to you as well. You just have to take Him at His word and believe that somehow some way whatever you are going through it will all work out for your good.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope that the Lord uses this to give you some encouragement. No matter what you are experiencing right now these truths are yours to keep. God's Word cannot be broken because God cannot lie. May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
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