Because despair does not come from Heaven

Saturday morning greeted me with a wet blanket of despair. I can’t explain why other than the worries of the world overtake me at times.

Call me human.

We are embroiled in a spiritual battle, whether some want to admit it or not. Peter told us:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

Keep in mind that Peter was talking to believers in this context. In v9, he said,

Resist him, standing firm in the faith…

If you aren’t a follower of Jesus Christ, the devil doesn’t need to destroy you; he would rather use you. But he does want to discourage and destroy the lives of believers and, ultimately, their effectiveness in winning souls for Jesus.

Jesus knew His believers would face this spiritual battle, and He prepared us for it by sending us the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NLT)

As Christians, we can’t experience the fullness of life without the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit within us, but do we incline our ears to Him? Or do we try to get through the days in our own strength?

That’s me many days.

But not the other day. I felt that the Holy Spirit had told me to put on my armor and fight the battle like I knew how. So, that’s what I did.

I beat the hell out of despair by attacking it ten ways. The tactics worked for me and will work for you, as well.

10 Tactics the Holy Spirit Gave Me to Beat Despair

1 – Reading the Word of God

A warrior in battle needs a weapon. The Bible is the weapon of choice for Christians, referred to as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). But this weapon is useless if we fail to arm ourselves with it. So, I started by reading the Word because I want to always know my father’s voice.

2 – Praying to God

Paul said in Ephesians 6:18 that we should be “praying at all times in the Spirit.” When you’re talking to God, you’re not listening to the enemy. A bonus strategy is to pray for other people because it redirects your focus off of yourself.

3 – Listening to and Singing Praise Music

Praising God with song is a literal biblical battle tactic. We learn in Second Chronicles that worship leaders went ahead of the army in battle. Their weapons were trumpets, flutes, cymbals, and their voices.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever. (2 Chronicles 20:21)

You should arm yourself with a Spotify playlist of your favorite praise songs that’s always in your holster when needed. “The Goodness of God” by Jenn Johnson is usually all I need.

The praise of Jesus on your lips leaves no room for the devil in your mind.

4 – Serving Other People

Just like praying for others, serving others shifts the focus away from one’s own worries. In the spirit of service, I set out to replace my wife’s brake light bulb. The task required a trip to the auto parts store, which I made while still listening to praise music. It ultimately necessitated a return journey to get the correct bulb (and that one required visiting three stores before I located it).

Honestly, had the Holy Spirit not already prepped me, I may have lost my religion at this point. But, “His power is made perfect in my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

*Note to self: next time, take the old part to the store with you. The first time.

By the way, I ended the day by rubbing her feet.

5 – Being Kind

Did you know that being kind to others is a way to help yourself?

Proverbs 11:17 says,

A man who is kind benefits himself…

So, on my first trip into town to buy the wrong brake light bulb, I stopped at a local coffee shop and bought my wife an iced mocha latte and pastry.

And you know what? It felt good. My own iced coffee and cream-filled pastry wasn’t bad either.

6 – Practicing Generosity

Being generous not only helps defeat despair, but it’s also a great way to combat greed. Humans are born greedy, and it only worsens with time unless we fight against it. That’s why we must “practice” generosity.

I got some training in at the coffee shop when paying for iced coffees and danishes. The cost was $18 and as I counted out the cash, I gave the teenage cashier the correct amount to include a 20% tip. I still had a few dollar bills, and the Holy Spirit nudged me to hand them over, too.

He knows what He’s doing because “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

7 – Walking and Getting Sunshine

This tactic to defeat despair has scientific support. Exposure to sunlight boosts the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood elevation and feelings of well-being.

Sunlight is also a natural source of Vitamin D. Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with depression and mood disorders.

On the other hand, walking stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” hormones, while reducing cortisol levels, the stress hormone.

I like to stack more good habits while walking, like taking my dog with me, listening to the Bible, praying, talking with family by phone, and enjoying a preaching podcast—all things I did on this day to kick despair in the mouth and wipe the twitching, slithery smile off its face.

8 – Catching Up with Family

Pop in your earbuds and phone a friend or family member while walking. For the millennials, I mean actually calling someone and having a real conversation, not through text messages. Apparently, God knew I needed encouragement, so He prompted my niece, Olivia, to call me.

You know someone who needs to hear from a loving and caring friend. Dial them up. Encouraging them will lift your despair.

9 – Hearing the Word of God Preached

As mentioned in #7, I stacked listening to a preaching podcast on to walking. Yes, it was a long walk. I read and study the Bible independently, but it is refreshing to hear a solid and trustworthy man of God preach the Word of God. As Paul says in Romans 10:17:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

You can always trust Pastor Tyson Coughlin of Vision Church in Charlotte, NC. Listening to Pastor T will always beat the devil of despair away from your door and bolster your faith.

10 – Using Your Gift to Share God’s Word

My gift is writing, and I have used it throughout this article to share biblical principles. This act of obedience has driven despair far from my heart and mind. It took me a couple of days to complete the article, but I began working on it the day despair threatened to ruin my mood.

What is your gift?

1 Peter 4:10-11 says,

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen.

Wrapping It Up

The devil is the “father of lies” (John 8:44) and loves to whisper discouragement into your ear. As Christians, we must arm ourselves against “the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11), and hopefully, this list of 10 ways I beat the hell out of despair will equip you for battle. Let me know in the comments.

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