A Thousand Methods of Despair

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Psalm 42:6

In his commentary on Psalm 42, John Calvin writes, “The soul of man serves the purpose, as it were, of a workshop to Satan in which to forge a thousand methods of despair.” Borrowing language Calvin uses elsewhere, we can say that our hearts are both idol factories and factories of gloomy despair. It does not take long for the devil to fire his darts into our internal dialogue to get our thoughts off Christ.

Despair will come, as assuredly as temptation. The solution to both is found in sustained remembrance on the Lord. Why else would Jesus institute a meal where believers can come and remember him?

“…if meditation upon the promises of God do not lead us to prayer, it will not have sufficient power to sustain and confirm us. Unless God impart strength to us, how shall we be able to subdue the many evil thoughts which constantly arise in our minds?” John Calvin