There are only a few things that help us truly breakthrough times of oppression, and they are praise, prayer, and patience in the waiting! David penned these words many years ago while he was in a waiting place of down-heartedness. He wrote God commands His lovingkindness in the daytime And in the night His song shall be with me – A prayer to the God of my life. – Ps 42:8
The song of the Lord shall be upon the lips of His beloved in good times and in bad. On the hills of heaven and the valleys of despair, a praise song will always lift your soul.
David continued in his hopeless situation by speaking to himself. He asked, Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. – Ps 42:5
He felt abandoned. He was depressed. He was distressed and groaning in anguish. David had no hope in anything. But God. We can learn a lot from the Psalms, especially about overcoming the dark night of the soul. God is our first hope. When we cast our cares upon Him with faith that He cares about them, we begin to feel hopelessness develop into peace.
When we choose joyfulness in the face of trials (James 1:2), we gain a different perspective of our situation. Everywhere in the world, people are troubled, sick, dying, depressed, addicted, fearfully trapped, and held captive by something or someone. We can always find someone who has it worse than we do.
Even when we don't think we can think of anything to praise God for, we always have salvation worthy of praise.
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. – Jer 44:23
Jeremiah, the mouthpiece of the LORD, went on to proclaim that the Redeemer was the one who formed us in the womb, made all things, stretched out the heavens all alone, and spread abroad the earth by Himself. God doesn't need our help in rectifying our situation; He requests our cooperation.
When we truly recognize that the Omniscient is at work on our behalf all the time and He truly knows why challenges are allowed in our lives, we can rest in the assurance that in due season, He is going to work it out for our good.
I truly believe that the lack of faith in God's ability to fix our brokenness is one of the biggest reasons so many people are still walking in the old nature.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, - 2 Cor 5:17-18
If we don't understand that God has created us, we won't understand the new person we are in spirit with salvation. The cross is foolish to those who have no spiritual understanding but life to those who believe. A change of heart happens, and we live by a different understanding, one only our spirit can have. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. – Rom 8:9-10
Our new person is now reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. We cannot be made right with God in any other way. Jesus is the door that is opened to God through faith.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. - Gal 6:14-15
I like how the Message writes these verses. 14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
The world no longer dictates our response to troubles. Depression is in the old nature.
The new creation is full of joy, peace, and righteousness because these are kingdom expressions, and the kingdom of God is within you if you are born again.
Whenever you are struggling with the ways of this world, remember that as a born-again believer, there is another eternal world that awaits you. The trials and challenges we go through here are only a blip (something relatively small or inconsequential within a larger context) on the timetable of God. Eternal bliss (perfect happiness, great joy) awaits those who endure.
Jesus said 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do [it]. - Jhn 14:13-14
Notice that Jesus does what we ask in prayer so that the Father may be glorified. This principle is often overlooked. We must know what God's perfect will is so that we can pray in accordance with what Jesus is willing to answer. If we ask for something that God is still using to promote His character in us, we may not get the answer until we know that the outcome will glorify God. Stay encouraged, and always remember God is working this out for your good…the payoff is worth the wait.
Let's Pray,
Heavenly Father, I choose praise in this season of despair. You will hear me and breakthrough the darkness that has grabbed hold of my soul. I speak to my soul to stand up and hear the word of the Lord and hope in the God of my salvation. There is no storm that I have weathered without You, O God, and this season is no different. I pray the trials I am facing today will bring about an outcome that will glorify You. In Jesus name, Amen.