I heard a good word from a preacher friend about despair yesterday.
Despair is often at the end of the rope of our fears.
We reach a state of giving up. We lose heart. The pain of living becomes unbearable.
I felt the heartless nature of despair when I was at the absolute pits of my drug addiction many years ago. I was convinced that my only way out was to take my life.
Through a timely conversation (intervention) with my wife, brother, boss, and a person in recovery coupled with lots of prayer, love, and direction from others–when I was unwilling to pray and love myself while my life had no rudder–I’m living proof that despair can be conquered.
But despair can rarely be conquered alone.
So what does my moment of despair over thirty-two years ago have to do with what is going on in the world today?
I’m glad you asked.
Yesterday I called a friend of mine who runs a soup kitchen in Troy. I was calling to see if Lori and I could help. Normally when I call him to see if he needs help he always tells me he has plenty of food and helpers. Yesterday’s conversation was different.
He noted how someone had purchased 400 pizzas from nine local pizza shops for him to give out this past Thursday. As he shared this amazing experience with me I could hear joy in his voice. He said, “Jay, what took place was simply unbelievable.” Keep in mind, my buddy has been doing this soup kitchen thing for thirty years, is a strong man of Christ and runs several homes for homeless addicts…he’s experienced a lot of “unbelievable” moments in God’s eyes for a long time.
Anyway, he went on to say that he never saw so many receptive smiles of joy as he and others handed pizzas to people as they drove, rode their bikes, or walked through the line.
He noted one man said, “I was looking so forward to this pizza tonight because I’ve just had the worst week of my life.”
Then he reminded me of the cold hard reality of what is going on as he shared with me that a fellow brother in recovery had taken his life the day before. He told me this brother had reached the end of his rope and gave up on having any hope.
He said, “Jay, people are in despair right now, we need to find ways to bring them hope.”
There is a whole lot of fear turning into despair these days.
What are you doing for those around you so they don’t lose hope, so they don’t lose heart and give up?
Sometimes hope shows up in the form of a conversation as I experienced first-hand many years ago.
Sometimes hope shows up on a street outside of a soup kitchen in the form of a pizza.
Hope can be delivered in a card, a letter, an email or a text.
Hope can be delivered through ongoing prayer.
Hope can be delivered through waving “Hi” through the window of a shut-in.
Teddy Roosevelt once said, “When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.”
Right now the world needs hope and someone out there needs for you to be their knot on the end of their rope.
1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Journal your thoughts:
What am I grateful for today?
In what way(s) will I bring light to the world today?
What will I deny myself so I may draw closer to God and gain more peace in my life today?
Prayer:
God, I offer myself to Thee—To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always! Amen. (Third Step Prayer – Chapter 5, pg.63, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous)
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
