Key scripture – “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 NASB).

Have you ever been in despair? Do you know that you will see God’s goodness in your despair?

In the key scripture, David is telling us that he would have despaired, he would’ve lost it, melted down if he did not believe that he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Despair is a place that we don’t want anyone to go. You do not even want your enemy to go to despair because people who go there a lot of times do not come back. Despair is increasingly dark, deep, damp, and lonely. Despair is being destitute of positive expectation. People who are in despair see nothing good in the future, they have no hope, and nothing to look forward to.

If you begin to think about and focus on and go over and over the bad things that have happened to you then you will go into despair. This is why the Bible tells us to take every thought captive under the obedience of Christ so that we do not go into despair. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

When David when he wrote Psalm 27, circumstances were pushing him and experiences from his past were calling out to him saying, “Come over here and focus and think about this, and let yourself get down and wallow in your past mistakes and failures.” David was hearing that voice in his head saying, “Do it, go ahead and do it, give it up, go to despair.”

Like David, our enemy, Satan, wants to destroy us. We will hear that voice bringing up our past. Telling us, “You can never live this down. You should live in shame the rest of your life because of what you did. You are horrible and God will never forgive you.” That is when we fell the vortex sucking our soul and body into despair.

I love David’s honesty in this Psalm. Even though David was the only man who was referred to as, “a man after [God’s] own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14), even though he defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17: 49-50), he was not to proud to let us know about his despair so that we can apply what he is saying to our situation. Just like us, David was no stranger to suffering and that is why David is telling us, “I would have despaired, I could’ve despaired. I felt the wrath of despair breathing on my neck.”

There are three things that are an accelerant on despair. We all need to watch out for these in our life because they have the same effect on despair that gasoline has on a fire.

1. Surprise. This is when you say, “Everything was going great and I did not see this coming, then BAM! I was laid flat.” This could be a heart attack, car accident, a betrayal, cancer, or any other serious health issue. Suddenly life turns on a dime and you have no time to brace yourself for what hit you. Surprise will take you quickly to despair.

2. Severe. A severe loss delivers an invitation to despair. You don’t despair over a parking ticket or losing a little money. But you very well may find cause for despair over losing your career, being fired from your job, or someone close to you dies suddenly.

3. Settled. When you despair, you always conclude that something bad is irreversible. You can’t go back and change it. The enemy, Satan, will tell you it’s settled, and that you are done.

Buying into any of these three mind sets is like pouring accelerant on your despair. When this happens, you need to step away from the flame and get God’s perspective on the problem.

In Psalm 27:13, David gives us God’s perspective and he tells us how to avoid despair. He says, “I would’ve despaired if I had not believed.” David is telling us we’ve got to get a hold of some of God’s promises and BELIEVE. You have to get a hold of the promises and understand that your answer might not come today or tomorrow, it might even be down the road a ways, but you know it’s coming. You are not going to live in your current situation forever. God will not let you down. Your answer will come to you in God’s way and based on His timing.

People will look at you and say, “How is he holding on during this time? What happened to him is so devastating, how is he coping with all this?” You will be able to tell them that you can keep going because you are trusting in, resting on, leaning on, and putting all your weight on the promises of God. You are holding onto His promises for dear life and believing and trusting God.

While you are putting all your weight on and believing God’s promises, He will fight for you. “And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14) .

Do you want to know what you will be doing while God is fighting for you? The Lord wants you to be silent. “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 45:14). Can you handle that? Can you keep your mouth closed and just be quiet? Don’t make it worse with what you say. Don’t inflame the situation by complaining, griping and fussing about what is going on and saying that you can’t understand why God did not do something about this yesterday. That is why the Lord wants you to be quiet, and just hold onto the promises and trust Him. Just stand still and wait for God and you will see the salvation of the Lord. “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,“ In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15).

When we come to the place where we cannot do anything else, I mean absolutely nothing, then all we can do is wait on God. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). We think that is the worst possible place because we always want to be doing something, but it’s actually the best. God loves it when we we are at that place.

When you cannot do anything. Let God do it all. All you need to do while you are waiting on God is be quiet and BELIEVE. Remember what David said, “If I had not believed.”

David then said, “If I had not believed I would see…” Eventually you are going to SEE something. You will see the goodness of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes. You are not going to just hear about it, You are going to see His goodness. You don’t know what it looks like right now, but you will see God’s goodness, and you will know it when you see it.

You ask, when will I see it? You will see it, “In the land of the living.” You are going to be on this earth, breathing oxygen, alive and well, and you are going to see it. In your lifetime, you will see it “In the land of the LIVING.” “You are going to see your child come home. You are going to see your spouse turn to God. You are going to see your career going in a better direction. You are going to see your marriage repaired. You are going to see your health restored. You are going to see your finances restored.”

If what is going on in your life right now makes you feel like you are in the front of a canoe and God is in the back paddling, but the canoe is headed for the falls, do not despair because God is always good. You want God to be guiding the canoe because God’s goodness is based upon His heart. God is always with you, He is sovereign and in control, and God is always good.

So don’t lose hope, don’t despair, instead BELIEVE, because you will SEE God’s goodness while you are walking around on this earth in the land of the LIVING.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, Your promises are so comforting to me. You are so good and all good things come from You. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17). I will cling to You and Your promises. I know that You will never forsake me, You are always with me, You are in control. Every day I will keep saying, “I will not despair, God is always good, I believe it and I will see the goodness of the a Lord in the land of the living. All things will work together for good.” I love You so much. Thank You for giving me Grace while I wait to see Your goodness. I know that I will taste and see that the Lord is good. Father, no matter what is going on in my life, I believe and I know that; It is not over till Jesus says it is over. I will not listen to my emotions or feelings or other people’s opinions because I know; It is not over till Jesus says it is over. I will wait patiently for You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 Laura Ingle