Prayer to drive away despondency

Once, the evangelist Luke began one of his chapters about Jesus Christ with these words: "He told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not give up."

The Bible reveals an interesting interdependence between phenomena in human life such as despair or depression and prayer. "Pray and do not lose heart." This raises a question:

Does despair simply fade away when one prays, or does the author mean that one should both pray and exert all their inner spiritual strength to avoid despair?

Of course, we would prefer if this process resembled the battle between light and darkness. You enter a dark room, turn on the light... and darkness disperses. It would be great if it worked the same way with prayer. As soon as despair sets in, as depression approaches – you pray, and the darkness disperses, leaving warmth and comfort in the soul.

And here, depending on each individual's spiritual experience, the results may vary. Some might say: "That's exactly how it happens for me. Whenever I feel down, I pray, invite God into my life to address my concerns, trust Him with my problems, open my heart to Him, and allow Him to act in my life as He sees fit. And when I feel such a strong and powerful presence beside me, I find peace, and indeed, warmth and comfort in my soul." As one seasoned prayer warrior said: "When the words of prayer are spoken, despair retreats, and the heart fills with light and joy."

On the other hand, there are those who haven't had such positive spiritual experiences, or if they have, they are not profound. They don't always find solace by merely uttering the words of a prayer. After all, prayer isn't just some magical incantation meant to chase away clouds, sorrows, and anxieties.

Primarily, prayer is a conversation with God, akin to talking to a close friend or a loving father (a genuinely loving, wise, and understanding father). Unfortunately, not everyone has had such fathers in their lives. Perhaps that's why some find it challenging to establish such a natural relationship with God.

But prayerful communion with God, the kind that soothes the heart, enlightens the mind, and rejuvenates spiritual strength, is indeed a communion. It implies close contact with a loving and caring entity.

Once, the apostle Peter said something simple yet profoundly important: "Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you." He referred to God, upon whom we can lay our worries and allow Him to care for us.

On the internet, you can find a well-known parable about an exhibition that the devil once organized and conducted.

He displayed all the tools of his trade for everyone to see. He laid them out in a glass showcase and attached labels to them, so everyone knew what they were and their respective values.

It was truly a golden collection! There was the shining Dagger of Envy, the Hammer of Wrath, and the Snare of Greed. The shelves displayed all the instruments of Fear, Pride, and Hatred. There was much to admire, to be horrified by, and to ponder.

Yet, on the farthest shelf lay a small, unimpressive, and somewhat worn wooden wedge labeled "Despair." Surprisingly, it was priced higher than all the other tools combined.

When asked why the Devil valued this item so highly, he replied:

"This is the only tool in my arsenal that I can rely on when all others prove powerless. If I manage to drive this peg of despair into a person's consciousness, it opens the doors for all my other tools."

Of course, this is just a parable. It's understood that the devil would never organize such an exhibition, let alone reveal his deepest secrets. But he has been using this peg for a very long time.

Despair paralyzes a person's will. It drives away any desire to act, to aspire, to create and innovate, and to communicate. The only thing a person in such a state can do is whining, grumbling, mumbling, being discontent, and feeling wronged by everyone.

That's precisely why prayer holds such significance and value. It weakens the power and influence of despair on a person's consciousness. Prayer liberates a person's will from this detrimental confinement and directs their gaze towards the heavens.

Listen to what is said in Psalm 120:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

For those of you with extensive prayer experience, I wish to say – continue to practice this spiritual discipline. It's precisely what allows a person to maintain spiritual vigor, hope in the heart, and love for those around.

For those with little or no prayer experience – try to develop it. Experiment with prayer. Dedicate some time for communion with God. Let it gradually become a habit for you. Simply ask during your prayer for God to help you feel His influence on your mind and actions. Imagine that your prayer is like spiritual Wi-Fi, keeping you constantly connected to God.

You'll notice changes in your spiritual mood very quickly. You'll be less irritable, more focused, much more positive, and your inner world will be in emotional balance. Despair might knock on the door of your emotional universe, but you'll have a very powerful, if you will, antivirus against this ailment. And that will be your sincere, pure, effective prayer.