1. David was troubled and battled deep despair many times in his life. He was a man after God’s own heart, but he dealt with and endured so much. David wrote many of the passages of Psalms and expressed his anguish and despair through many of his songs.
Psalm 38:4 – My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
Psalm 32:11 – Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
2. Elijah was discouraged, weary, and afraid. This mighty man of God feared and ran for his life, far away from the threats of Jezebel and he had every right to feel the fear he felt. His feelings were valid. He even pleaded for God to take his life. He is no different than you and I.
1 Kings 19:4 – while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
3. Jonah was angry and wanted to run away from it all. After God called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach to the people, he fled as far away as he could. He wanted to get completely away from anyone and everyone. We have all done that at one time or another, haven’t we?
Jonah 4:3 – Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah 4:9 -But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
4. Job suffered through great loss, devastation, and physical illness. Read the whole Book of Job. Man he took a beating it seemed, but he endured. He endured all of it even when the devil took him for the ride of his life. He endured and so can you my friend!
5. Moses was grieved over the sin of his people in Exodus.
Exodus 32:32 – But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
6. Jeremiah wrestled with great loneliness, feelings of defeat, rejection and insecurity. He even wondered why God would allow him to even be born. He was shameful and couldn’t understand the ways his life had gone or why.
Jeremiah 20:18 – Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
7. Even Jesus Himself was deeply anguished over what lay before Him. I mean, wouldn’t you? He was God in human form, but He was HUMAN!
Isaiah 53:3 – He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Mark 14: 34-36 – 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Luke 22:44 – And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.