Out of the Depths, Part 5

Despair is the word we use to describe our feelings around hopelessness. As we’ve seen in each week of this series, the Psalms meet us where we need it most regarding negative emotions. The various writers of the Psalms were well acquainted with despair. A prayer like Psalm 88 provides us with the necessary guardrails to despair well before God–to appropriately take our worst moments and thoughts to Him in prayer.

It Was Finished Upon That Cross
CityAlight

That’s the Power
Hillsong Worship

Hope is on the Horizon
Bridgetown Church

Despair is hopelessness.

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Psalm 10:1
Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

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Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

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Psalm 88:13-18
But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.

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Lamentations 3:1-8
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; God has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me God turns his hand again and again the whole day long. God has made my flesh and my skin waste away; God has broken my bones; God has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; God has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. God has walled me about so that I cannot escape; God has made my chains heavy; though I call and cry for help, God shuts out my prayer.
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Lamentations 3:17-18
I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.”

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Lamentations 3:21-26
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

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Psalm 77:10-12
Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

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1. Use the feelings to push you to the facts.

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2. Use the facts to push you to focus on the true nature, character, and work of God.

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3. Use the true nature, character, and work of God to push you to trust in His timing.

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