Those who havefallen into the swamp of despair

It is natural for Christians, who believe Jesus and are saved, to lead their faith lives with all of their hearts and strength. However, there are two kinds of Christians: those who devote their lives to their faith lifeand those who meet minimum requirementsfor entering heaven. In fact when all of those come to church for the first time, they would experience being freed from their sins and be greatly touched, but, unfortunately, many of them end up failing to maintain the first day’s inspiration, and even totally losing it.

One of the reasons why many Christians cannot sustain the first inspiration, though they havehad spiritual experience, is becausethey are exhausted with their lives’ hardship. Of course, everyone has experiencedfallinginto despair in this world. People are easily hur,t both physically and mentally, in the circumstances that are governed by wealth. Those who are exhausted with the daily lives’ hardship, even though they havereceived abundant grace, are not willing to focus on their spiritual lives. It is more likely especially in the case of Korea, in which materialism and favoritism prevail, or indeveloping countries, where people are fed up with violence and poverty. They are not able to pay attention to spiritual matters, as they are troubled by matters in their daily lives.

At this point, church should be the place that makes the force of despair disappear, where all seeds of curses perish, and where God’s happiness prevails. Many people are bothered by the fear that they might be hurt again as they have been hurt intheir private matters. There may be caseswhereone person, who does not apparently seem to have problems, might be about to collapse from hurt. It would be masking their hurt against their will to tell them, “The world is troubling place, so just bear withit.” If an evangelist regards one’s despair as something light and just ignores it, it would be hard for those who are exhausted with their hardship to come to the church.

Jesus, Who Brings Pleasure Back to Those Who Are in Despair

There was a widow in a village, Nain. She, who had struggled with her life, was faced with another trouble; her only son had died. She had to face the worst two things in the world that most arehardly able to stand. Her son brought meaning to her life and sustained her. Sustaining life as a widow would have been a gloomy situation.

Thewidow was totally in despair. However, on her way along with her son’s coffin, she happened to meet with Jesus. Jesus told the widow in despair, “Don’t cry”, and commanded her dead son, “Young man, get up!” The dead young man was raised up, and those who saw the shocking scene gave glory to God. If the widow had not met with Jesus, she would have fallen into a severely miserable life. But, she met with Jesus in the darkness of despair, thereby gaining hope and joy.

The Lord who helped the widow also helps us now. He is willing to help us and knows our weakness better than anyone else. While he prepares rooms in heaven for us, we, who are left in the world, are faced with all kinds of despair. We have to seek the Lord’s help ratherthan take them for granted. The Lord will raise up those who are frustrated and walking in the way of despair, and settle down all our desperations.

The Gospel, the Command of the Lord that Stops Despair

The Gospel is the Lord’s command that stops despair. For people who belong to the world, despair is unavoidable. Many people are discouraged, going through many kinds of unfortunate events. As the old saying goes, “Once bitten twice shy”, they are prepared to shrink back, even before misfortune happens. However, we live by the Lord’s command that calms down the fierce waves ofthe world. The Lord, who has saved us by breaking the law of despair, will take us to heaven. Therefore, we must become accustomed to blocking the way of misfortune and despair by God’s help.

In order to do so, we have to have ‘the power of God’s happiness’ in our hearts. This does not mean that we are mentally relieved just by covering the scars and despairs in our hearts. Just as Jesus became flesh and came to the world so that we could see God through Him, the power of God’s happiness clearly appears before us. A life of faith is a life of experiencing that very power.

The first step to revealing the power of God’s happiness is to respect and care other members in Christ. As this effort continues and people’s scars get healed, more and more people will open their minds toward others. Consequently, if there is sincere fellowship among the saints, God’s help will emerge and block despair, and those who experience the power will realize the way to overcome the fear of despair.

Let Us Be the Church that Overcomes Despair with Jesus’ Gospel!

We have to make the church overcome despair with Jesus’ gospel. For this, first, we have to always be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and not to lose respect and awe toward the Holy Spirit. We have to always be conscious of the eyes of the Holy Spirit who watches our minds and behaviors. We must not ignore the moment when the Holy Spirit is about to work.

Second, by finding God’s help in our daily lives we have to give thanks to God and testify it. If we are living without accidents and in peace, it is the testimony that God is blocking numerous accidents that we otherwise would have beenfaced with. Therefore, we have to remember that God is always helping us and give thanks for it. Many people would regard God’s help as a coincidence. However, we have to find the traces of God’s help that are hidden in our daily lives, thereby giving continual thanks to God. If we do not appreciate God’s help, even after we have received it, it means thatwedo not believe God’s help, which is the same as rejecting His help.

Third, we have to experience God’s miracles often. Christians have daily testimonies of God’s miracles. With the experiences of God’s miraculous work, we have to have continual fellowship among otherchurch members.

Fourth, we have to comfort each member. We must not stop using encouraging words. In church, pains in our heart caused in our daily lives should be healed as well as our spiritual problems. People can be greatly comforted just by some words of caring and respect and understanding of their pains.

The Gospel is not fully completed just by listening. The Gospel enables us to gain victory with God’s help. To be victorious, all parts of the church have to struggle and devote themselves. The Lord is our shield, and we are troops that hold the shield. If we do not go out and fight, having a shield does nothing. We have to stand and serve the Lord’s church, fighting against the enemies’ schemes. God wants to unfold His happiness in us. We have to welcome His work. We are to let God work in us.