A Partner in Prayer When Facing Despair

DAY NINETEEN: Sunday, November 2, 2008

Read Romans 8

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:25 (NIV)

There is an oft-repeated scene in movies of a desperate man climbing out on a ledge preparing to end it all. Police are leaning out a nearby window to talk him out of it while rescue workers on the ground spread nets in case he leaps. Camera crews film the crowd gathered to watch the tragedy play out. Then someone in the crowd yells, "Jump!"

How could anyone be so cruel?

Perhaps the person on the ground is experiencing desperation similar to the poor soul on the ledge. Our culture is saturated with the idea that nothing really matters anyway - so why not go ahead and jump?

Lif is hard on all of us sometimes. Yet even though we may be tempted to despair - to lose hope - there is an alternative - waiting patiently for God to fulfill His promises.

Romans 8 wrestles particularly with the despondency associated with the weaknesses of our fallen nature - the human tendency to break God's laws even though we love Him. We're still susceptible to envy, greed, bias, insincere worship, lust, gossip, pride, and a garrison of other sins.

The key to overcoming despair is to partner with the Holy Spirit in our prayers. He helps us wait on God. Our despair then gives way to hope, as it becomes clear to us that today's clouds cannot prevent tomorrow's sunlight.

Action step for today: Thank God for the Holy Spirit.