Since the
beginning of
time, Man has
been plagued by
the most
destructive
incurable
cancer: being
born with a
sinful
nature. There is
nothing he can
do to rid
himself from
it. All attempts
are futile and
can only lead to
more
suffering. One
of the worst
symptoms of this
cancer is
despair
(meaning
sunk down).
Are you facing
despair because
of
incontrollable
circumstances in
your life? You
are not alone!
It’s one of the
most crippling
conditions
mankind will
ever have to
cope with, and
it’s a powerful
seducer of the
human spirit. It
produces a
sinking feeling
in the heart. We
see no hope, no
relief, and no
prospect of
help; most of
the time this
beaten-down
feeling is the
result of our
own reaction
to the
undesirable
circumstances of
life. Most of us
can identify
with that in one
way or another.
Satan, the worst
enemy of God and
humanity can
push someone (by
his attacks),
into despair. We
must remember
that he’s been
defeated at the
cross and if we
make Christ our
shelter, the
devil has to
flee. Living
with a downcast
spirit can
undermine our
faith in God and
make us poor
examples of His
love and power.
Despair takes
its toll on
families,
relationships,
our health and
our
reasoning. Therefore,
it’s never the
right choice. It
dominates our
emotions and
produces
hopelessness. Some
of us are facing
chronic
illnesses.
Mental health
problems and
handicaps of all
kinds—are more
vulnerable to a
downcast spirit.
Despair is a
normal and
legitimate
reaction that
must gradually
be overcome. No
one should live
in that state of
mind. You surely
must ask
yourself how to
surmount it.
All of us cope
in different
ways, ways that
are most
familiar and we
also have the
tendency to
place our entire
hope in those we
love. Eventually
though, we
realize that
others can only
do so much to
help—for we are
bound by our
human
limitations and
we can get
crushed if we
try eliminating
despair in our
own strength,
instead of
God’s.
We live in a
mortal sinful
decaying body
and mind on a
planet that is
dying, and is a
very dangerous
place in which
to live. Most
conditions in
this universe
are favorable to
bringing about
despair.
I’m inviting you
to consider the
Creator of the
universe and of
human kind:
Jesus
Christ. This sin
cancer, which is
inherent to our
feeble nature,
is what
separates us
from God.
Jesus was
subjected to the
most horrible
way of dying. He
was crucified,
tortured and
humiliated by
men. He took
upon Himself our
judgment. He
deprived himself
of His Father’s
presence for my
sake and yours.
What pure grace
He manifested on
our behalf to
save us from
ourselves, our
sins and the
enemy; to
sustain us every
minute of our
lives.
If I didn’t know
Christ as my
Savior, I know
for a fact that
I would be in
more than just
despair. I would
be terrified and
in constant
panic. If you
don’t know
Christ, you need
to open your
eyes and heart
to what’s really
going on in this
world (instead
of going into
denial). Denial
is not an
option.
Ignorance can
make you fall
quickly!
Most people
reject Christ
and His offer of
love. Jesus is
waiting for you
with compassion
and open arms to
forgive your
sins and make
His Spirit
reside in your
heart, and
become your
Savior. By
becoming a child
of His, you are
then a new
creature walking
in the newness
of life! That’s
what being
born-again
means. He
transforms each
of us unique
individuals with
profound care
and tenderness.
Despair makes us
feel that God is
absent, that He
doesn’t truly
care for us. But
He remains in
control of His
entire creation
and of each of
our lives. We
might not see
Him at work but
He never leaves
us...and His
plans for us
always come to
completion.
Faith is
trusting like a
child would a
parent, simply
and without
constantly
questioning. Let
go of yourself
to Jesus; rest
in all of His
promises. Just
allow Him to
show you what He
desires for
you...to fulfill
your life.
He is the best
guide and friend
you will ever
know. He is more
than able to
turn your
despair into a
fading memory
and be your well
of joy—in spite
of all the
suffering you
may encounter.
Life is life and
Jesus wants to
hold your hand,
to take you in
His arms when
you can no
longer walk on
your own. He
wants to whisper
to you all His
love, affection
and tenderness
so that you will
feel protected
and secure.
He’s the Master
of the
impossible!
We have finite
minds and can’t
fathom what God
is capable of.
If He created,
why can’t He
take care of us
as His children?
Yes, it is easy
for me to write
those words to
you, but as I
myself keep
struggling, I
admonish myself
to do what I’m
supposed to
do: Let go and
let God. I
certainly don’t
have all I need
to fend for
myself so I must
depend on Him
all the time. If
we resist, He
can place us in
situations to
remind us that
He wants our
best for us.
Man has turned
God’s entire
magnificent
creation into a
total ruin. Our
sin catches up
to us and we
must be honest
with ourselves:
We can be our
worst enemy!
We are also
victimized by
evil and
ignorant people.
Wounds can run
deep and need
healing, for
sure.
The Lord’s
desire is to
restore each of
us to become
like Him—but we
must let Him do
His work in our
inner-being. We
must admit that
we prefer to
remain in
control of
everything. We
shouldn’t be
surprised to
have so many
problems.
I don’t write
about what I
don’t
experience. How
could I relate
if I didn’t face
some of the same
struggles as
others? I never
dreamed that one
day the Lord
would invite me
to share my life
with you, like
this. It wasn’t
in my plans, for
sure. I’ve been
encouraged by
brothers and
sisters in
Christ to relate
to you. It has
positively
changed my life.
I long to reach
out to you so
that you can
meet Jesus
Christ too, to
be well, and in
turn tell others
how great it is
to know Him and
live in His
freedom and
grace.
I first thought
that I wouldn’t
be of a good
example to
others if I
dared share some
of my
weaknesses. Because
I continue to
suffer, I do
experience
despair at
times. But what
I want you to
know is that the
moment Jesus
presented
Himself to me, I
just fell in
love with Him
and in spite of
seemingly
impossible
situations, He
enabled me to
stay close to
Him.
He is my only
refuge and
shelter. I can’t
live in guilt
because I’m
afflicted nor
should I be told
that I lack
faith. To the
contrary, if I
didn’t trust
Christ, I would
certainly be
totally
hopeless.
When I read in
the Bible that
someday soon,
Jesus will come
back on the
clouds to take
his bride (all
His children)
home with Him
where we belong,
that promise has
sustained me
greatly in my
worst
threatening
illnesses and
accidents.
I don’t want
Satan to control
me so I remain
close to my Lord
as much as
possible. If I
were to die
before the
Rapture, all the
better I would
finally be
home! (I just
wouldn’t want to
know how I would
die...though.)
I feel like Paul
in the
Scriptures. He
longed to go
home with Christ
but he also knew
that Jesus had
more work for
him to do on
God’s earth. We
must learn to
set aside some
of our struggles
to love and care
for others.
Sharing the
gospel of our
great Savior is
just part of our
mission. I’ve
been in need of
unconditional
love all my
life. The Lord
sends onto our
path the right
persons, so we
can feel the
depth of His
love (when His
children strive
to show it His
way).
Despair must
leave and be
replaced
by—hope. That
word means:
certainty. If
you know people
living in
despair, let
them know that
there is a much
better way to
live. Show them
Jesus’ love and
it will
transform their
lives. Without
hope, a human
being dies for
he has no reason
to live.
If I were Jesus,
I would delight
in my children
if they could
only understand
that their
greatest purpose
is above all, to
love each other
in spite of
their
differences.
Love casts out
fear and it’s
the greatest
virtue. It is
eternal and will
follow us into
eternity!
I tend to love
and care for
people around
me. I like to
write to you
with my heart
because I don’t
know how else to
share. I make
myself available
to listen and do
what I can to
help, comfort
and empathize. I
need discernment
and wisdom
because it’s not
always easy to
understand and
know how to lift
burdens off
others
shoulders. I
tell myself that
the golden rule
applies in our
everyday lives:
To do for others
what we would
like others to
do for us!
Write to me if
you need to...
Lucie who cares!
luciekirouac@sogetel.net