Against Despair

'Rise, let us be going.' Matt 26:46

'The disciples went to sleep when they should have kept
awake, and when they realized what they had done, it
produced despair. The sense of the irreparable is apt to
make us despair, and say--"It is all up now, it is no use
trying anymore." If we imagine that this kind of despair
is exceptional, we are mistaken, it is a very ordinary
human experience. Whenever we realize that we have
not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity
of doing, then we are apt to sink into despair,; and Jesus
comes and says--"Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost 
for ever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next
thing." Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom
of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.

There are experiences like this in each of our lives. We
are in despair, the despair that comes from actualities,
and we cannot lift ourselves out of it. The disciples in
this instance had done a downright unforgivable thing;
they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus,
but He came with a spiritual initiative against their
despair and said--"Arise and do the next thing." If we are
inspired of God, what is the next thing? To trust Him
absolutely and to pray on the ground of His Redemption.

Never let your failure corrupt your new action.'
Oswald Chambers