June 30

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; — 2 Cor 4:8 BSB

Oh, what a mercy it is, amid all our inward and outward perplexities, to be out of the reach of Giant Despair! Not to be shut up in the iron cage of hopelessness, not to be abandoned like Judas or Ahithophel to despair and suicide, and after a long life of profession to make shipwreck of faith! Even with all the doubts, fears, sinkings, misgivings, and perplexities the child of God may endure, he is never truly in despair. He may come so near to the borders of that dark land that it seems almost like he is walking in despair, or at least on its edge. Many of God’s children have, at times, come to the solemn conclusion that there is no hope for them, that their sins are too great to be forgiven.

But even in such moments, they do not fall into black despair like Judas, where there is no way back. They may come close, but deep within, there is still a “Who can tell?” lingering in their hearts. It is not the utter hopelessness of despair that leads to destruction. Though they walk near the borders of this dark land, they are never abandoned to fall into it completely. God holds their feet back from slipping into that terrible pit, and He keeps them from being cast into the sea of despair, which has no bottom or shore. The Lord keeps His own from utter despair, no matter how low they may sink or how long they may endure the terrors of their trials.