Sermon On Frustration Or Despair?

Mark Goulston, an American psychiatrist and writer once remarked: “Being alone with fear can rapidly turn into panic. Being alone with frustration can rapidly turn into anger. Being alone with disappointment can rapidly turn into discouragement and, even worse, despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reminds us: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Frustration is defined as the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something. It can prevent progression, success or fulfilment in a chosen task or ambition. It may also engender an onslaught of discouragement. However, in contrast, despair is alarmingly described as a complete loss or absence of hope. Both frustration and despair can be directly linked to discouragement in life which may create an unfortunate cocktail of hopelessness, sadness and disappointment.

Frustration can take many forms. It may even emit anger or jealousy between the closest of friends. If two people consider themselves to be of similar standing, but one receives more favor or reward than the other, that can initiate rivalry between them. Such is the case in the Bible about king Saul and David. Although this story focuses on many aspects, including obedience, it also concerns issues with popularity. The chosen ones of God are expected to be duteous, however, even though they both sin or disobey in their respective ways in the sight of God, David repents and finds favor. However, the story eventually culminates in David fleeing Saul in fear of his life, and seeking refuge.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 reminds us: “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul's servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.”

Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”

After Saul appoints David to be the leader of his armies, David becomes extremely successful and embellishes much favor with others, including God. Saul, then, becomes jealous of David’s success. Frustrated, and even possibly fearful, he seeks retribution by wishing to kill him. The incursion of despair has materialized in Saul.

Despair could be considered a solitary state of mind that may be filled solely in darkness. The faculties of reason or perspectiveness are seemingly lost or blocked and can’t be located. A state of hopelessness increasingly prevails and the doors to a peaceful heart and freedom are firmly closed and locked. To stand any chance of recovery, these doors need to be unlocked and reopened to allow the light back into our lives.

In times like these, unless despair is challenged in its infancy, life can become an unrealistic fantasy, where nothing but gloom and despondency exists. Sometimes, thoughts of self-harm may enter the equation and appear to be a logical course of action in an attempt to attain self-peace, but even worse, these may be engulfed by the wrongful intentions to harm others. 1 Samuel 19:1-7 continues: “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.”