Hi Lori,

Thanks for the question.

It's my personal opinion, that of all the vices the demonic plants in our minds, despair is the greatest one.

• Why?
  

Let me first preface my answer by saying my opinion does not apply to those who have issues of medical depression involved. These people should be:

• Following their doctors orders, and
• if possible, have a spiritual director/priest to address spiritual issues that arise.
  

When a person has thoughts of despair, assuming there are no issues of medical depression involved, they start to believe:

• that life is not worth living
• they have no purpose in life, and
• that they are an inconvenience to others, including family.
  

This is not true and is a demonic lie straight from Satan and his legions.

All men and women are created for a specific purpose in life and that purpose is not complete until our natural death. It is my prayer that even those with some type of medical depression, see and appreciate this truth of the Catholic Church.

At first, that purpose may be obvious, and for the first X number of years there may be no issues of despair involved, until a certain event happens in our life. When a tragedy happens in our lives, it is an opportunity for us.

A good priest-friend of mine told me that crisis means dangerous opportunity. Our choice is what glorifies God, or does not.

Remember the movie, It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart?

Our choice decides whether we live in Pottersville or Bedford Falls.

The person who is in a tough situation and is struggling with the virtue of hope, should keep striving to trust God and remember God never allows anything bad to happen in our lives, without pulling out a greater good out in their future.

That said, I would agree, it is a sinful, but human, way to react to certain events in our lives where we lack a trust in God. This is where going to Confession and talking with the Confessor about your situation can be very beneficial. Whether initiated by the Confessor, or his Guardian Angel, I'm sure any situation, with despair, will be offered up at his next Mass.

Any smart Catholic Confessor should always personally ask his Guardian Angel to offer, for him, all the pleas for help and petitions he hears, during his time in the Confessional, in his daily Masses.

I hope this answers your question.

Mike