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Repairing the Wreckage of Despair

Writer's picture: Dr. Simon OlatunjiDr. Simon Olatunji

Daily Scripture Threshing for Wednesday, August 11, 2021


Today’s Text: Matthew 26:36-46


Key Verse: Matthew 26:46 (NASB): “Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!

Between our Lord’s "Rise, let us be going," and "Sleep on now, and take your rest," there is a lot of events that we can relate with in our day-to-day life. We are in many ways troubled and weak like Jesus’ disciples. We would go to sleep when we should have stayed awake if we were there in the Garden of Gethsemane. Often, our sense of weakness or helplessness produce more despair than those fiery darts thrown at us by our enemies. Things like our feeling of being ordinary, the guilt of commission and omissions, the irreversible nature of mennial errors, the emptiness that follows besetting sins, etc. — All these things have great ways of imposing deaperacy, fear, and despair us. But the simplicity of transition we see in Jesus‘ admonition of His disciples to pray and His encouragement of them to sleep thereafter teaches us that as long as we have carried out burdens to the Lord in prayer, we can, or should rest on His faithfulness.


The flesh will despair. It will try to pull the spirit down. But we must not allow such shadows to ever settle on our hearts. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury once told how he noticed a boy, who having made a prey of a bird, tied it to a stone. Of which, while the bird struggled in vain to fly away, the boy excited himself in keeping it down. And, from that experience, Alsem explains that the battle between the flesh and the spirit are in the same manner. The spirit is willing to mount upward in spiritual devotion, but the flesh takes pleasure in keeping it down at will. If you ever thought that you are alone in this kind of despair, then you are mistaken. This feeling is common to all real persons like you and I. But the devil wants to take advantage of us so we may sink into despair and be heart broken. Have you prayed about that feeling? Then hear Jesus lovingly say: “It is ok, you can end the despair now and go to sleep.” Quit the despair over that opportunity that is lost. Quit the worries over situations you can’t change. Just bow your knees, and when you are done praying; just get up, and let the past sleep while you go ahead, trusting Jesus absolutely. Shake off that beast into the fire of prayer, and never let any past failure rob you of a sleep.


Quote for the Day: “The reality of the flesh means more than living in the body. It is the embodiment of the nature and complexities of fallen adamic life.” (Simon Olatunji)


Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, give me your Holy Spirit and power and let Him give me victory over the depressing power of the flesh. Many times my spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; but I am made strong and victory this day, and always, in Jesus' name. Amen.


With all my love and prayers,


Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)


[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide written for free distribution and edification of churches, families, homes, and individuals. If you are blessed by this, you can be a part of it by giving a one-time or recurring donation. To give through Zelle and CashApp, please use or call +1 (407) 360-8280. For inquiries, free spiritual counseling, prayer, or deliverance, please call +1 (469) 332-3443. For instant messaging and WhatsApp, use‪‪‬‬ +1 (817) 822-8441.


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