Why Are You in Despair, O My Soul?

‍

Psalm 43:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

‍

A severe state of hopelessness in which a person feels powerless, sad, abandoned, overwhelmed, and convinced that nothing can improve — that is deep despair. It is the conviction, despite what anyone else may say, that no effort, prayer, or help will make any difference at all. Such despair commonly rears its head after the holidays for many people, more so than before or during.

‍

‍“My days have passed; my plans are shattered… the night turns to day, the light is near—yet I sit in darkness.” - Job

‍

When we are overcome by burdens, Jesus takes active measures to assume the full load in our stead. It’s like a type of bartering where He offloads whatever is pressing us into the dirt, hurls it upon His back, and lifts us up out of the miry clay simultaneously. And here’s where the exchange takes place: He grants to us much-needed rest in its place.

‍

Your burden becomes His burden…

His rest is now your rest…

‍

That’s precisely what Christ promises in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

‍

Someone once offered the analogy of Belgian horses. They are massive, powerful animals. A single Belgian can pull over 8,000 pounds. Remarkably, when two Belgian horses—strangers to one another—are yoked together, they don’t merely double their capacity to 16,000 pounds; they can pull closer to 24,000. And when trained to work together, that same pair can pull nearly 32,000 pounds—four times what one can manage alone.

The life-takeaway often goes: we, along with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit, can carry a gargantuan load.

While the analogy may sound intriguing, it breaks down quickly. Christ’s invitation does not entail Him doing His part while we do ours—similar to a popularized bumper sticker in the 1980’s that read: “God is my co-pilot.” Works-based righteousness is as false today as then.

‍

Again, despair, by definition, assumes powerlessness—when pressure becomes paralyzing. It’s a place where “our part,” whatever we imagine it to be, becomes non-existent.

The better analogy comes from the simplicity of a nursey rhyme, with ever so faint hints of Gospel:

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
and all the king’s men and all the king’s horses
couldn’t put Humpty together again.

During World War I, triage referred to the practice of sorting the wounded when medical resources were scarce. Doctors would “color-tag” patients into three groups: one deemed hopeless—nothing could be done; another expected to survive regardless of treatment; and a third with a doubtful prognosis—a chance to live only if care was given. With limited supplies, aid was reserved for this last group.

‍

‍

If, in your greatest time of need, you find yourself asking, “Why do You stand far away, LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1), rest on the faith of others. Rest in the heart of the Gospel, even when it feels nearly impossible to accept.

Even the disciples who witnessed Jesus in person experienced moments of doubt:

‍“I believe Lord; help my unbelief!”

‍

I’ll leave you with two encouragements from the Word:

‍‍

‍1st- Jesus preemptively warned His would-be followers that they would undergo despair—a difficult truth to swallow. But there is comfort knowing your Savior shares your plight:

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Mt. 26:38)

And again:

“In His anguish, {Jesus} prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Lk. 22:44)

‍

‍2nd- while the word “hope” usually implies uncertainty in English (“I hope such and such happens”), hope in the New Testament carries an entirely different meaning—it’s an absolute certainty, a confident expectation that believers can count on. You can hope in God!

‍

‍“Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.”
– Psalm 42:11

‍

‍

Jesus said, "For those who have ears to hear, let them hear."

‍