This is season 10 in Flavel’s book on Keeping the Heart. In this devotional, we will be looking at the season of doubting and of spiritual darkness; a time when a Christian may feel tempted by feelings of despair. There are many reasons why a Christian may lapse into feeling this way; several of which will be addressed below. Here is Flavel for season 10:
The time of doubting and of spiritual darkness constitutes another season when it is very difficult to keep the heart. When the light and comfort of the divine presence is withdrawn; when the believer, from the prevalence of indwelling sin in one form or other, is ready to renounce his hopes, to infer desperate conclusions with respect to himself, to regard his former comforts as vain delusions, and his professions as hypocrisy; at such a time much diligence is necessary to keep the heart from despondency. The Christian’s distress arises from his apprehension of his spiritual state, and in general he argues against his possessing true religion, either from his having relapsed into the same sins from which he had formerly been recovered with shame and sorrow; or from the sensible declining of his affections from God; or from the strength of his affections toward creature enjoyments; or from his enlargement in public, while he is often confined and barren in private duties; or from some horrible suggestions of Satan, with which his soul is greatly perplexed; or, lastly, from God’s silence and seeming denial of his long depending prayers. Now in order to the establishment and support of the heart under these circumstances, it is necessary that you be acquainted with some general truths which have a tendency to calm the trembling and doubting soul; and that you be rightly instructed with regard to the above-mentioned causes of disquiet. Let me direct your attention to the following general truths.
1. Every appearance of hypocrisy does not prove the person who manifests it to be a hypocrite. You should carefully distinguish between the appearance and the predominance of hypocrisy. There are remains of deceitfulness in the best hearts; this was exemplified in David and Peter; but the prevailing frame of their hearts being upright, they were not denominated hypocrites for their conduct.
In Flavel’s first point, he shows the tendency of believers—especially of those sensitive to keeping their hearts—to quickly condemn themselves as being characterized by the sin itself. In other words, rather than seeing themselves as a saved person who may occasionally stumble and lie, they see themselves as being a liar from the inside out. Hypocrites are hypocrites because hypocrisy is what characterizes them from the inside-out. However, for a Christian to, at times, stumble and commit the sin of hypocrisy is for him to be acting against His newly-created nature in Christ. The thrust of his life towards godliness testifies against his being characterized by hypocrisy. Hence, on the path to godliness, stumbling ought not to cause the Christian to doubt his salvation. What it should lead to is repentance.
2. We ought to regard what can be said in our favor, as well as what may be said against us. It is the sin of Upright persons sometimes, to exercise an unreasonable severity against themselves. They do not impartially consider the state of their souls. To make their state appear better than it really is, indeed is the damning sin of self-flattering hypocrites; and to make their state appear worse than it really is, is the sin and folly of some good persons. But why should you be such an enemy to your own peace? Why read over the evidences of God’s love to your soul, as a man does a book which he intends to confute? Why do you study evasions, and turn off those comforts which are due to you?
Those sensitive to keeping the heart can also tend to, as Flavel says, “exercise an unreasonable severity against themselves.” This does not imply that Christians out not to be severe in mortifying sin. Far from it! Rather, when the truth of our sinful state is denied, and we act as though we must be performing on the level of sinless perfection, then we invite despair. Paul himself often recounts of his own sinfulness not to justify his sin, but to help teach his own reliance on God by faith. We are not promised sinlessness in this life, but a constant striving and struggle against the flesh, aided by the Holy Spirit. Hence, when we do sin, and we come to God in repentance, God bestows His grace upon us through our faith in His Son. And it is this grace that is always at our disposal—not to be taken advantage of, as if a license to sin—which is given to us for our own assurance and growth in the peace of God. To deny this grace of ourselves is to deny what God has provided us to aid us in our weakness—which is exactly what one needs who is being too severe on themselves. That will help remove their feeling of despair.
3. Every thing which may be an occasion of grief to the people of God, is not a sufficient ground for their questioning the reality of their religion. Many things may trouble, which ought not to stumble you. If upon every occasion you should call in question all that had ever been wrought upon you, your life would be made up of doubtings and fears, and you could never attain that settled inward peace, and live that life of praise and thankfulness which the Gospel requires.
Rather than questioning God or His providence, we should learn to be content regardless of our circumstances. Likewise, it helps to know that we deserve nothing but an eternity in hell for our sin. Because of this, every second that we live, whether in suffering or comfort, is an act of grace from God. Every second that we do not spend in hell is 100% because of His grace. So, rather than revolving around particulars of suffering, we ought to ask, why does God give us any grace at all? This flips the sinful tendency to doubt God on its head, which then becomes thanking God and seeing His grace operative in everything.
4. The soul is not at all times in a suitable state to pass a right judgment upon itself. It is peculiarly unqualified for this in the hour of desertion or temptation. Such seasons must be improved rather for watching and resisting, than for judging and determining.
When we are feeling despondent, that fact alone should indicate to us that we are not in our right minds. If we were in our right minds, then we would see no reason to be so. So, rather than, in feelings of despair, seeking to judge yourself in light of that despair, seek instead wise and godly counsel that can help you to again ground yourself in the Faith. Learn also to recognize when you feel that way, and see it as not determinative of you or your faith. How we feel does not determine or dictate reality. Rather, what the Bible teaches about our identity and union with Christ determines this. The Bible is our anchor.
5. Whatever be the ground of one’s distress, it should drive him to, not from God. Suppose you have sinned thus and so, or that you have been thus long and sadly deserted, yet you have no right to infer that you ought to be discouraged, as if there was no help for you in God.
God provides remedies and ways to vibrant faith. In Christ we lack nothing. Distress always has the potential to drive us closer to God, especially as we grow in recognizing who He is and what He does for those in Christ. Growing in this also helps us to grow in keeping our hearts on Him, which is always the antidote, regardless of the problem.
Next time we will be looking at two more considerations.