Despondency - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Why are you cast down, o my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5

Despondency
It would be hard and wrong to maintain that a Christian should never be sad: wrong because, whether Christians or not, we can all go through episodes of depression that have no spiritual origin, It is hard for those passing through sad circumstances.

The Bible contains reports of believers like Job, Elijah, Jeremiah and Paul, who have all known severe troubles.

Even without periods of depression we nearly all have experienced sadness and discouragement. During a life of faith days and nights, or occasions can alternate when everything is clear, while on others the horizon seems so obscure. Let us not be driven to pessimism: our faith can always be revived by reading, even briefly, the Word of God. Let us ask Him to let His light shine into our hearts as we contemplate the Saviour in the gospels.

Reading the psalms comforts us when we feel troubled, discouraged or misunderstood. Their authors often told God of their affliction, putting their suffering into words: "Why are you cast down, o my soul?" Like a prick of conscience searching for the cause of such suffering comes the conviction that God will take charge of it and heal the wounds. Regular times of meditation alone or with Christian brothers and sisters can be a great help.

Let us pray to the Lord to tell Him of our sufferings, remembering that He suffered so much for us. The subject of our joy is the Lord Himself.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 42:7-22 · Romans 10:14-21