Do Not Despair, Saints of God
"Perplexed, but not in despair." -II Corinthians 4:8 [KJV]
Oh!
what a mercy, amidst every degree of inward or outward perplexity, to
be out of the reach of Giant Despair; not to be shut up in the iron
cage; not to be abandoned, as Judas or Ahithophel, to utter desperation
and suicide, and, after a long life of profession, concerning faith to
make awful shipwreck!
Now the child of God, with all his doubts,
fears, sinkings, misgivings, and trying perplexities is never really and
truly in despair. He may tread so near the borders of that black
country that it may almost be debateable land whether he is walking in
despair or upon the borders of it; for I believe many children of God
have at times come to the solemn conclusion that there is no hope for
them, for they cannot see how they can be saved or have their aggravated
sins pardoned.
And though this be not black despair, nor such
utter, irremediable desperation as seized Saul and Judas, for there
still is a "Who can tell?" yet it certainly is walking very near the
borders of that dark and terrible land. I cannot tell, nor do I believe
any can, how low a child of God may sink, or how long he may continue
under the terrors of the Almighty; but we have the warrant of God's word
to believe that he is never given up to utter despair, for the Lord
holds up his feet from falling into that terrible pit, and being cast
into that sea to which there is neither bottom nor shore.
-preacher J.C. Philpot (1802–1869 A.D.)
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