In John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character CHRISTIAN slips into a miry bog called The Slough of Despond.
“It is the low ground where the scum and filth of a guilty conscience, caused by conviction of sin, continually gather and for this reason it is called the Slough of Despond.”
CHRISTIAN struggles in the mire for a little while and then HELP comes.
“But why did you not look for the steps?” HELP asks.
CHRISTIAN answers, “FEAR followed me so hard, that I fled the next way and fell in.”
HELP extends his hand, draws him out, sets him on solid ground, and sends him on his way.
We’ve all passed through the Slough of Despond. Maybe you are passing through now. Poor CHRISTIAN. In his fear and anxiety he could not see right.
Isn’t there a propensity to grow so weary and faint under the weight of our own trials and afflictions that we lose sight of Jesus? Isn’t there a proneness in the best of us to lose the eyes of our faith?
That is the cry of the psalmist in Psalms 13:3 when he pleads with God, “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death“
That is my prayer today — for all the saints. Let us lift up the trumpet of our prayers toward heaven and utter a cry of faith, “Lord, give light to our eyes.”
One word comes to mind, “Real” simply real.
We’ve all been there no doubt. I’m reminded of the wise counsel our first pastor gave us almost 30 years ago about depression. He noted that most depression is self-focused and one of the best ways to get out of it (slough of despond) is to find someone in need and meet that need. By refocusing on others we heal ourselves. Praying for all the saints is a great place to find HELP in our depression. Moreover, prayer is part of the armor in spiritual warfare.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Eph. 6:18).
The banks fail, stocks go up and down, people at war, uncertainty surrounds us. The only thing that remains constant is our undeserving love of God for us
I shared this blog with all my friends. We live in a dismal world. Why when, you hear the news and the world seems upside down. I see so many people in economical distress the world on the brink of self destruction. Indeed this is a time a for us the believers to raise our trumpets-of prayers and remind ourselves that the Lord is the only provider, and defender and ruler of the universe. Therefore I rest my faith under his umbrella and not mankind. Thank You for the reminder.
Wonderful message and reminder!