Dealing With Despair

Despair

Suggested Scriptures

1 Peter 1:3  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Colossians 1:21-23  "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,  if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

Romans 5:2  "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Introduction:

"Despair" is one of the search words we identify as central to internet evangelism. By definition[i], despair is a sense of hopelessness that results in a loss of hope or expectation. In other words, despair creates confusion, robs energy and causes people to lose direction for their lives. If a person battles despair, just waking up in the morning can be too much too bear. Working with a person in despair can be very frustrating. Try to offer Christ's hope without discounting the hurt they currently feel. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as you point them toward Scripture memorization and local church participation. Remind the inquirer that you are available to assist them if required.

What We Can Offer a Person in Despair:

1. Offer Empathy:

Thank the inquirer for sharing their situation. Remind them that many people have fought despair at one time or another. Let them know that you understand that despair creates confusion, robs energy and causes people to lose direction for their lives. Resist the temptation to judge their situation. Instead relate to the pain that they must feel by saying something like, "When you battle despair, just waking up in the morning can seem like it is too much too bear."

2. Offer Hope Through Jesus:

You might tell your inquirer, "Fortunately, there is hope. You can have peace even when your circumstances appear too difficult to change. The Apostle Paul wrote: "we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair." (2 Cor 4:8)(ESV)  How can you discover the kind of overcoming power that Paul wrote about? It is available as a gift to you from God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who follow Christ are given the power to overcome the world

3. Offer an Opportunity to Pray for Salvation or Recommitment:

Let your inquirer know that they can become born of God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Apostle John wrote: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith." (1Jn 5:4)(ESV) Having faith in Christ gives us the ability to see the world from a new perspective. Jesus Christ brought hope to all those who put their trust in Him. The Gospel of John says: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)(ESV)  Because Jesus overcame death on our behalf, we have a hope that other people simply cannot understand. The good news is that Christ offers those people the same hope if they will also put their trust in Him.

4. Ask the Question: "Have you trusted Jesus?" Suggest that your inquirer pray like this:

"Dear Jesus. I am tired of my despair. I need new hope. I understand that you came to give that hope to me. I am sorry for any wrong that I have done. I receive your forgiveness. Please give me the kind of hope that will drive despair away from me. I thank you for your offer of love and forgiveness. I receive the new life that you offer me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

5. Offer to Follow-up With Them:

The goal of Project 100Million and 1-2-1 Connections is to help the inquirer not only accept Christ, but become connected to a local church in their area. You can accomplish this by offering the following:

"If you prayed that prayer to accept Christ as your Savior, please let me know by signing in at e-responders.com. I will be glad to help you get started in your new faith. If you recommitted your life to Christ, let me know that too." "Let me give you a few hints that might help you to battle despair in the days ahead."

"First, consider memorizing the following Bible verse and repeat it to yourself several times a day." We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan." (Romans 8:28)(ESV)

"Second, commit to praying and reading the Bible for at least 15 minutes each day."

"Third, make a list of the 10 things that hurt you the most. Tell God about the list and ask Him for help to overcome the things you've listed."

"Finally, you should consider becoming involved in a local church in your area. You can write to me at e-responders.com website and I will assist you."