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Robert_Sock
Guest
I think I remember reading that it was a sin, but I’m not sure.
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L
Least
Guest
Despair is you failing to sense that JESUS has placed a hand on each side of your face and leaned-in and touched his nose to yours.
Life becomes pointed until you acknowledge HIM, then he smiles and you follow him.
Life becomes pointed until you acknowledge HIM, then he smiles and you follow him.
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Lady_Love
Guest
Behind most feelings is a thought or series of thoughts. The feeling of despair is not itself a sin. It is just a feeling. As long as you don’t conform your thoughts to your feelings, as long as you don’t choose to feel despair it is not a sin but possibly a temptation. BUT whereas most feelings find their root in thoughts, I would examine what you are thinking about.
Sometimes grief can bring on feelings of despair and grief is experienced on account of losing something of value, something in which you find a sense of identity, a sense of self. It is appropriate to grieve losses and grief is a process that takes it’s own time when healing.
There probably was a time that I succumbed to despair. It became my familiar companion, I willingly chose to think about the very things that made me feel despair. It had quite a hold on me for a while until in a last ditch effort to regain myself I started rebuking spirits. I chose, against my inclinations to cast off despair. I knew I was weak myself and had no strength to fight this demon so I called on the name of Jesus saying, “In the name of Jesus, I renounce the spirit of despair and I command it to leave me now!” It worked. I kept up this practice until despair no longer had a foothold on my life.
God be with you. Trust in Him to save you.
Sometimes grief can bring on feelings of despair and grief is experienced on account of losing something of value, something in which you find a sense of identity, a sense of self. It is appropriate to grieve losses and grief is a process that takes it’s own time when healing.
There probably was a time that I succumbed to despair. It became my familiar companion, I willingly chose to think about the very things that made me feel despair. It had quite a hold on me for a while until in a last ditch effort to regain myself I started rebuking spirits. I chose, against my inclinations to cast off despair. I knew I was weak myself and had no strength to fight this demon so I called on the name of Jesus saying, “In the name of Jesus, I renounce the spirit of despair and I command it to leave me now!” It worked. I kept up this practice until despair no longer had a foothold on my life.
God be with you. Trust in Him to save you.
C
cheezey
Guest
He is closer when we are hurting. That I am hurting does not mean I don’t know that He is there…I certainly know that He is…
B
bcuster
Guest
If I am in my right mind, that is, completely aware and in control of my faculties, and I freely choose against hope in God’s providence, despair is a sin. Fortunately (or unfortunately) most of us do not FEEL despair under these conditions. We are affected by loneliness, confusion, sadness, frustration, and grief. At these times, redirect for feelings to God. Give Him these negative feelings–it seems counter-intuitive, but God want to share everything. Then allow God to help and support you. Bring these issues up with your confessor. I have often spoken with my confessor about times when I am not sure I sinned or not. Confessors are very good at helping us with even a simple question. Be at peace.
O
odhiambo
Guest
The sin of despair. Yes, despair is a sin; it is a sin against the virtue of hope.
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Robert_Sock
Guest
Deep clinical despair and extremely anxious today, remembering back to the times I felt like I was going to become homeless. These feelings are felt in my body; although a part of my mind appears to be hurting and lacking in hope, the greater part of my mind is clear and calm, and largely focused on God. I took Xanax for the anxiety, but I my body feels almost entirely immobilized. I feel like this on most days, but today it’s more severe.
(Please note that I already have a psychologist and psychiatrist, and so I’m not seeking medical advice, which is against forum rules; instead, I’m only seeking spiritual advice and an answer to whether of not it’s a sin.).
(Please note that I already have a psychologist and psychiatrist, and so I’m not seeking medical advice, which is against forum rules; instead, I’m only seeking spiritual advice and an answer to whether of not it’s a sin.).
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Aelred_Minor
Guest
This is correct. In the words of Gandalf or Elrond or some such character in The Lord of the Rings, despair is for those who see the end beyond all hope. But from a Christian perspective we never see this in life, because our hope is in God.
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Aelred_Minor
Guest
I think that due to your medical condition few people if anyone here could discern whether it appears you are guilty of the sin of despair. Despair is a sin, but in principle mental/emotional issues could possibly elicit feelings of despair without the actual spiritual reality of despair being present.
S
StudentMI
Guest
Robert, if you have clinical depression that can limit your culpability if you feel despair.
In my opinion, if someone chooses to feel despair, to make themselves despair, then something is wrong and they need help. In such cases, I think God is forgiving, and that it is not a mortal sin. But I am not a priest or a theologian. Talk with your priest about it, Robert.
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