Despair, a profound sense of hopelessness and discouragement, is an experience that even the most devout followers of God may encounter. Throughout the Scriptures, we find instances where saints, despite their faith and dedication, faced moments of deep despair. These accounts serve as both a warning and a comfort, illustrating the human condition and the sustaining power of God.

Biblical Examples of Despair:

1. Elijah: The prophet Elijah, after his triumph over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, experienced a severe bout of despair. In 1 Kings 19:4, Elijah, fleeing from Queen Jezebel, sits under a broom tree and prays, "It is enough, O LORD; take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." Despite his previous victories, Elijah felt overwhelmed and alone, yet God provided for him and reassured him of His presence.

2. David: King David, a man after God's own heart, often expressed feelings of despair in the Psalms. In Psalm 42:5, he writes, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence." David's candid expressions of despair are coupled with a resolve to trust in God's deliverance.

3. Job: The account of Job is a profound exploration of human suffering and despair. After losing his children, wealth, and health, Job laments in Job 3:11, "Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?" Despite his intense suffering and questioning, Job ultimately remains faithful, and God restores him.

4. Jeremiah: Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah experienced deep despair over the unrepentant state of Israel and the destruction that followed. In Lamentations 3:17-18, he writes, "My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, 'My strength has perished along with my hope from the LORD.'" Yet, Jeremiah also affirms God's faithfulness, declaring, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end" (Lamentations 3:22).

5. Paul: The Apostle Paul, despite his unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel, faced moments of despair. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, he recounts, "We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life." Paul acknowledges the severity of his trials but also recognizes that such experiences taught him to rely not on himself but on God.

Theological Insights:

The experiences of these saints highlight the reality that despair can afflict anyone, regardless of their spiritual maturity or past victories. It is a reminder of human frailty and the ongoing spiritual battle faced by believers. However, these accounts also emphasize the importance of turning to God in times of despair. The saints' responses to their despair—prayer, lament, and reaffirmation of faith—demonstrate a reliance on God's character and promises.

Scripture assures believers that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). The presence of despair in the lives of saints serves as a testament to God's sustaining grace and the hope that is found in Him alone.Job 7:6
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Lamentations 3:18
And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Thirteenth Chapter: Resisting Temptation
... or so holy but he is sometimes tempted; man cannot ... The saints all passed through
many temptations and trials to ... We should not despair, therefore, when we are ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the thirteenth chapter resisting temptation.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... doctrine is absolutely needful to prevent despair, when conviction is ... to sin, and
may be sometimes placed under ... renders it certain, that the saints will always ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture l perseverance of saints.htm

Of the Lack of all Comfort
... If it was thus with the great saints, we who are poor and needy ought not to despair
if we ... so religious and godly, but that he felt sometimes a withdrawal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter ix of the lack.htm

Loving Advice for Anxious Seekers
... Much-tempted and severely-tried saints are frequently at ... Sometimes it is their pride
which makes them fools. ... so that they lack wisdom through their despair. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 13 1867/loving advice for anxious seekers.htm

The Education of the World.
... There have been great saints since the days of the ... may be mixed with tares, they
despair of rooting ... under the law, such men are sometimes tempted to prescribe ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/the education of the world.htm

Intercessory Prayer
... Let not Despair rivet his cruel fetters about thy soul. ... has been practiced by all
the best of God's saints. ... did he wrestle, and if we may sometimes be tempted ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/intercessory prayer.htm

Temporary Hardening.
... or with flattery, to frighten him with despair or to ... smothering their spiritual life,
kept them, sometimes for years ... the spiritual distress of the saints is the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxiv temporary hardening.htm

I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
... God, with Cain and Judas, and utterly despair of mercy ... expostulation, as Jacob (Genesis
32:9). Sometimes in way ... hide his face from his dearest saints (Isaiah 8 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/i will pray with the.htm

Temptations.
... if not all the miscarriages of the saints and people ... And albeit, saith Satan, thou
prayest sometimes, yet is ... Why then, despair, and go hang thyself, saith the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xv temptations.htm

On the Feast of Martyrs
... Thus we read of many Saints, that they so ... and hard within, like stone, and sometimes
they lose ... will make God angry with their impatience, despair or moroseness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxx on the feast.htm

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