Read Psalm 69:19-21. 19You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. 20Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. 21They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
Despair is a common emotion in the scriptures. Noah’s despair drove him to drink. Job’s despair is legendary. Naomi’s despair caused her to change her name to “Bitter.” We are all too familiar with David’s despair. Elijah wanted to die. Jeremiah wept. The Apostle Paul “despaired of life itself.”
Have you ever felt the weight of despair over your own soul? Have reproach, shame, and dishonor ever left you struggling to find the right answers or even the right questions? If so you are in good company. Even the best company – Christ himself. Jesus walked the road of despair all the way to the cross. He found no pity, no comforters, only the sour wine meant to numb the pain.
What kept his feet moving forward THROUGH the despair? The joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2). Christ despised the shame and kept his eyes fixed on the joy of knowing you. And me. The joy of knowing our very souls.
Now to live is Christ means we can say with the psalmist, You know. You know my reproach. You know my shame. You know my dishonor. You know my despair. You know my broken heart. But to live is Christ also means that we can know his joy on the other side.
Prayer. Jesus, you know me. You know my broken heart. Let me know your heart as we journey through despair together. Amen.
To Live is Christ 