On Despair

Despair, according to the teaching of Saint John Climacus, arises either from the awareness of “the multitude of sins and the burdening of the conscience and an unbearable sorrow, when the soul, because of the multitude of these wounds, is submerged and drowned by their weight in the deep of hopelessness,” or “from pride and arrogance, when those who have fallen think that they do not deserve this fall.” Despair of the first kind draws a person into every vice indiscriminately, while in despair of the second kind a person still clings to his spiritual effort—which, in the words of John Climacus, is incompatible with reason. The first is healed by self-restraint and good hope, and the second by humility and the refusal to judge one’s neighbor (St. John Climacus, The Ladder, Step 26, section 89).

The Lord is concerned for our salvation. But the devil, who is a murderer of men, strives to bring a person into despair.

A soul that is noble and steadfast does not despair in misfortunes, whatever they may be. Our life is like a house of trials and torments; but we will not turn away from the Lord until He commands those who are tormenting us to leave off, and until we are enlivened by patience and firm dispassion.

Judas the betrayer was faint-hearted and inexperienced in spiritual warfare, and therefore the enemy, seeing his despair, fell upon him and drove him to hang himself. But Peter—the firm rock—when he fell into sin, being skilled in spiritual combat, did not despair and did not lose heart, but shed bitter tears from a burning heart; and the enemy, seeing those tears, as though scorched in the eyes by fire, fled far from him with a cry of pain.

“Therefore, brothers,” teaches the venerable Antiochus, “when despair attacks us, let us not submit to it, but, strengthened and guarded by the light of faith, let us say with great courage to the evil spirit: ‘What have we to do with you, you outcast from God, you fugitive from heaven, you wicked slave? You dare not do anything to us. Christ, the Son of God, has power over us and over all. To Him we have sinned, and by Him we will be justified. And you, destroyer, depart from us. Strengthened by His Holy Cross, we trample your serpent’s head’” (St. Antiochus, Homily 27).

And with tender compunction let us pray to the Lord: