You have the ability to ensure you will never fall prey to despair. We are given the key in Psalm 27:13, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (NASB)
Apparently King David, who wrote this Psalm, had come close to despair himself, and with good reason. His father in law, who happened to be king, was out to kill him, the army he once served on faithfully was now hunting him down, & the throne he had been anointed to sit on was occupied by someone else. But no matter how bleak things looked, no matter how bad things got, we are told there was something that kept him from despair. There was one thing in David’s life that prevented him from losing heart.
He says plainly, “I would have despaired…” David almost gave up. He almost decided answering God’s call on his live was not worth it. He almost concluded that he no longer wanted to serve the LORD
But something prevented that from ever happening. What was it?
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord…”
David had it settled in his heart that he would SEE the goodness of the Lord. Not just hear about it. Not just believe in it. Not just know about it. He believed that God’s goodness was going to become visible, apparent, obvious, observable in his life.
When though? Not “when the roll is called up yonder” or “in the sweet bye and bye”. He knew he would see God’s goodness “in the land of the living.” In THIS life.
David attributes this belief, and nothing else, to what guarded his heart from despair. If it was true for King David, it is true for you and me as well. To despair proof your life you must build our faith in God’s goodness and in the fact that you can see His goodness on display during your lifetime.
To not have this settled in your heart is to make yourself vulnerable to despair. Believing that His goodness may or may not be tasted in this life, or is only reserved for heaven makes you easy prey to hopelessness.
Let it be established in your heart, “I WILL walk in His provision. I WILL see His healing power. I WILL live in His freedom. I WILL know His joy. I WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”
