Surrendering from Despair – From the Edges

Surrendering From Despair

Prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook

January 17, 2025

The Wesleyan way in small group circles, band meetings, class meetings, even in one on one conversations, the historic question is often asked “how is it with your soul ?” The first time this question was asked of me; I melted before answering and then lied and said “good”.  If we desire to be honest and we should, this question should bring us to a place of change and out of despair when we examine our own inner soul. I stress the concern to take care of our own soul with careful examination, before we spend time examining everyone else. Our role with others should be one of walking with, keeping confidence, praying with, and delighting in the deliverance that is provided to each and everyone through Jesus Christ and redemption.

Lamentations is a book in the Old Testament which is centered around the holy nation of Jerusalem enduring destruction and the need to be rescued through God’s righteousness. There is thought that these people believed that God was angry at them and had allowed the destruction to happen. However, in the midst of everything there is hope!

Lamentation 3 turns to an individual’s lament here is what Lamentations 3:55-58 reveals to us –  “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; 56 you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’57 You came near when I called on you;  you said, ‘Do not fear!’58 “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.”(ESV)

The King James Version in verse 55 refers to the “pit” as a “dungeon”. While I don’t know what it is to be in either a physical pit or a dungeon, I do know and understand what it means to be in “despair”. I realize that many times our despair is caused by others or evil and how it continues to drag us down. Many times, it is because we have allowed something that will hurt us and our souls to invade and drag us further into the pit where we become a prisoner of the dungeon of despair.   

When God – through the Father, Son Jesus, or power of the Holy Spirit show us the way it is to close that dungeon forever and never return, this is called redemption.

Lamentations 3:57 and 58 speak to this. Hear this: God hears us when we call, we are comforted and should not fear, our cause has been taken up when we surrender, we will be redeemed.

Now the rest is up to us. What will you do? Continue to lament or take the holy shovel that has been given to each of us and dig ourselves out and never return again. It will be then when all holiness and righteousness is in our heart that we will be able to say “it is well with my soul”. Until then, keep drawing closer and closer to God.

You are not defeated, you are not deserted by God, You are loved by God more than you will ever realize!