Ascension from Despair

By Peter Crause

Psalm 68:13 Though you have been sitting among the pots, yet you will be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

So often the pressures of life and cares of this world cause us to hide from the Lord and His people; loneliness, pain and the feeling of being abandoned, bring heartache and despair to bear on us. Although we may face these times in our lives, they can become opportunities for growth, maturity and greater revelation to our hearts of what we have and are in Christ. Paul says: “Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment; works for us…” This from the man who knew beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwreck – staring death in the face often; in light of what he had in Christ, viewed it all as “light affliction”!

Looking at the lives and experiences of godly men and woman; how they were able to endure and rejoice in the direst circumstances, should and can be an encouragement to us in our “light affliction”. There are so many ways our hearts can “take flight” again. Maybe it is a comforting word from a friend. Maybe it is a scripture reading that the Lord illuminates to our hearts and speaks to our situation. Maybe it is as mundane a thing as a good night’s sleep. It could even be a long needed holiday. Whatever it is the Lord may use to encourage – for God is the God of All Comfort and Encouragement – it helps us to put things into proper perspective and see what is really important.

The picture painted in our scripture reference in Psalm 68 is something the Israelite homeowner would be familiar with. Their homes had flat roofs; a handy place to recline in the cool of the day, but also a handy place to store unneeded junk; things that were no longer needed or useful. In that day, such things as clay pots were stored there – gathering dust and becoming rather dirty. These were still useful – if cleaned up – but to all intents and purposes seemed discarded and fit for the nuisance-ground. The entire area looked like one to be avoided; it smelled of decay; it “inspired” discouragement; a place to be avoided if possible. It was at such places that birds such as doves would alight. Here they would seek shelter and maybe even nest. If affrighted, they would take flight; the grey-silver of their flapping wings visible and reflecting a golden glint of sunlight as they soared into the clear blue sky. This was a beautiful sight to behold. On the roof amongst the dirty pots, they were unseen and seemed as dirty and discarded as the pots. Their true beauty wasn’t obvious to the observer – but when they took flight; what beauty could be seen!

This is such a beautiful description of the soul who is or has been depressed, lonely and in despair. Sitting among the useless “pots” – seemingly discarded. Sitting in a dusty, dirty corner – not really the place of the overcoming, victorious, beautiful, clean and pure member of the Bride of Christ – we certainly do not look the part of what we really are. All that is needed is something to cause us to “take flight” – something to cause us to rise up from the doldrums of despair, and to let our beauty be seen and experienced once again.

Silver in scripture is a symbol of redemption. This is what lifts us up – the fact we have been redeemed or bought by the precious blood of Jesus. We are of great value to the Lord. The value of an article is not necessarily in its own intrinsic worth, but valuable for the price paid to acquire it. Our true value is because the Blood of Christ was given to “purchase” us – we are His possession. We are NOT discarded, useless clay pots and have no need to sit amongst them. We are “King’s Kids”.

There is a story I once heard of the dauphin – son of the king of France. The king had been beheaded and the young prince was kept alive. The people who had perpetrated this foul deed wanted to bring shame to the name of the kingly line and family. They thought about the worst thing they could do to the young prince to completely humiliate him; much like Satan wants to do to the children of God. They decided to put him in the care of a sinful “woman of the streets” – to be raised in filth, sin and corruption. She tried to force him to do things unbecoming to an heir of the court. It is said that when faced with these pressures, the young prince would stamp his foot in defiance and say: “I was born to be the king of France. I am royalty! I cannot do this – I will not do this!” He knew what he was! Outwardly discarded and doomed to be a street urchin – but refused to be numbered with them.

Dear ones – refuse to be “pressured” into despair. Look at your wings – they are silver – we are redeemed and precious. We are King’s Kids – we were born to reign in life. There is no need to “sit among the pots!”

As we “take flight” once again, we reflect the golden glory of the Son of Righteousness. The beauty of our Lord is seen reflected from us. Gold symbolizes deity. We are not divine, but we bear and reflect the Divine Image of our Lord Jesus.

Be encouraged today dear heart. Rise up on wings of redemption. Soar in the breeze of the Holy Spirit. Reflect the golden beauty of Jesus. You were born again for this. Refuse to be forced into Satan’s mold. Leave the dusty dirty “pots” of despair and discouragement behind and soar into the fresh blue beyond – to the place of peace, joy and delight in God. We should and can be “looking down” – for we are seated in heavenly places in Christ.