Christian,

As you walk with the Lord through this life, there will be times when the darkness of sin and this world produces a weight on your soul that feels unmanageable.  Where is the delight in the Lord that had previously sustained you? The joy-filled fuel that carried you forward in faith feels so absent now, that you begin to wonder if it ever existed at all.  What do you do?  Who do you turn to?  Where do go?

If this sounds foreign to you, or if you have not experienced that kind of spiritual longing, know that you will as a Christian – those days are coming, and soon.  For those you have tasted the glory of God, to then feel His absence is difficult to bear.  Know that you are not alone; all Christians will endure times of spiritual depression from sin, a lack of spiritual disciplines, or simply by the providence of God.  We have an enemy in Satan, and he would love nothing more than to keep a Christian in spiritual darkness forever, if only to limit his/her effectiveness for the ministry of Christ.  I want to encourage you, and exhort you to prepare yourself for those times before they come upon you.  Let me share with you, how I fight the fight of faith, when I feel hopelessly lost.

First, I remind myself of the gospel, namely that Christ did not come to save the righteous, but he died to save sinners.  Moreover, He died, while we were sinners – none of my past sins, present sins, or future sins will “catch Jesus off guard”; He foreknew them all, and nailed every bit of my sin to the cross.  My salvation is secure in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and He loves me today, right where I am.

Romans 5:8 – “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I remind myself of the character of God, and the promises of God.  God will not forsake a broken sinner, pleading for Him.  God may break us, He may feel apart for a time, but all this is to draw us closer to Him for our good.

Psalm 51:7 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Matthew 5:3-6 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Lastly, I remind myself that no matter what I may feel, God is always with me and for me.  When I feel hopeless and powerless to fight the fight of faith, I remember that the fight is not mine, but His.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, goes before us, and fights for us, so I place my trust in Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

The Lord is with you and for you.  Therefore, be encouraged to hope in Him.  Press these verses into your heart, and memorize them if you can. Prepare so that in those days to come when it feels as if the darkness will not lift, there will be a Light of the glory of God that is unshakable, immoveable and will overwhelm the darkness of your soul with joy.

Lamentations 3:22-24 – “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.””

Grace and Peace,

Adam