August 20, 2022

Daily Devotion:

"Horrendous Spiritual Despair..."

Lamentations 1:20

New International Version

20 “See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves inside, there is only death.

When was the last time you were in the depths of genuine despair? What moment was so spiritually harrowing that you felt all was lost? Maybe you've never experienced the unique despair associated with sin, but for those who have, nothing comes close by comparison. Unlike even the devastation associated with death or disease, the utter terror born of moral failure is haunting. Only that kind of torment can make one appreciate the agonizing depth of lament recorded in Lamentations. With war, famine, and disease rapidly overtaking the people of Jerusalem, the question "Why?" must have plagued the minds of all who struggled to survive. And the obvious, painful answer was even more haunting: Because of sin! Sin that easily could have been avoided. Sin that seemed harmless at the time. Sin that everybody else was doing and thus appeared acceptable. Sin that is so easily committed, yet so impossible to undo. Sin that always has consequences.

When sin, and sin alone, is the root cause of grief, how great is that grief! Yet, in some respects, despair over sin and its consequences is to be welcomed. It's a wake-up call! If our sin was not already so obviously wrong that it couldn't get our attention, then what except pain and despair would do the trick? This poses an interesting question for those who have never experienced spiritual devastation. Is it because of a lack of sin or because the sins you've committed have not moved you to despair? Pity the sinner whose sins have no devastating consequences! Without a wake-up call, what reason is there to wake up?

The alarming question is: If ever again I find myself in horrendous spiritual despair, will I hit "snooze" and turn over or open my eyes?