Dread, Despair, and Delight
        Certain emotional reactions confront the Christian as one is challenged with growth in service. If the person can under­stand oneself he will be better able to step forward in crucial moments. Three words describe these emotions.
Dread
            Dread is the emotion of fear con­cerning an anticipated experience. It is not fear without a reason; it is fear mixed with awe. A new Christian is sometimes filled with dread for exam­ple, as he contemplates praying in public. He is awed by the request. He may feel perfectly free in private prayer, but he dreads leading a cor­porate body into the presence of God. Dread often rules the emotions in such an experience so that the person does not think clearly.
        Dread is also an emotion which deters people from witnessing. A sense of misgiving about witnessing involves many things. We may dread what others will think about us, or dread the possibility of being rejected. We may dread the dialogue that would take place in witnessing. We may fear that we cannot adequately an­swer all questions that may arise. Our own lack of deep Christian experience may deter witnessing because we dread the exposure of our own shal­low experience.
        Dread often bothers the potential Sunday school teacher who has never taught. Dread of failure may cause him to turn down .this responsibility.
Whenever there is the challenge of a new experience in the Christian life there is the possibility of dread. he alternative to continued dread is to go on to victory over it by achieving success.
Despair
        With mixed emotions we view an opportunity for service. We sense the need but hesitate in dread. When ~ dread becomes the victor, despair comes into play. Where dread obtains the upper hand, and the Christian hesitates or draws back, he often comes to this state of despair. The young Christian begins to wonder
if he will ever have victory.
        As a young high school student and a young Christian, I had always wanted to be a part of the prayer meeting by leading in prayer along with others. Each Wednesday I would resolve inwardly that I would volun­teer to lead in prayer. And each Wednesday I would not lift my hand because of my dread. As I left the church and walked the lonely street home it was always with a sense of despair. I had failed myself as well as God. Each time I refrained, my sense of hope was ebbing and dread grew stronger.
        Despair has often been the lot of Christians who have failed to accept the opportunity of witnessing. The Christian's sense of awe for the task deepens his sense of despair when he neglects the proclamation of the Gos­pel. He justly condemns himself for failure. As despair floods the soul one realizes the seriousness of the situa­tion because of the destiny of men without Christ.
Dread and despair go together.
There is no delivery from them until one returns to the point of confront­ing the dreaded duty. Despair, how­ever, can be escaped. We are not caught without an exit. This brings us to the alternate emotion.
Delight
        Dread and despair are overcome when delight emerges as the joyous consequence of having said "yes" to service. The word "delight" has a connection with "light." When we have confronted opportunity and used it we feel as if the light of heaven itself has shone down upon us and joy and pleasure are ours.
There is a happy ending to my ex­perience of leading in public prayer. There came a time when I rejected dread and despair and volunteered to pray. The walk home after prayer meeting was full of delight.
        In the realm of witnessing the Christian can live in delight. It is an indescribable pleasure to speak of Christ to others. The joy of faithful­ness in service is crowned with the pleasure of obedience to the Master.
        The teacher or preacher sees de­light in the results of hard work and accepted responsibility. We sense this in John 4 where joy is expressed over those who walk in the truth.
I have delighted in the growth of those whose lives I have seen trans­formed by personal witness. I dreaded speaking to one man. With each hesi­tation there came despair. One day I became victor over myself and dread turned to delight as he became a Christian. This delight increased as February 2, 1964 he grew in the knowledge of Christ. It is a thrill to see him serve as a Sunday school superintendent. Such is the potential.
        Some Christians have filled a pew all their lives dreading the thought of stepping into service. Dread leads to despair. Despair falls by the way­side, and dread becomes subservient to indifference .. In due time indiffer­ence dominates all.
        On the other hand, victory over dread and despair results in delight. Delight can be cultivated and en­joyed. As delight becomes the domi­nant emotion, dread and despair be­come subservient. As delight con­tinually stirs the depths of our souls, we discover that dread no longer has its hold and hence no more despair.
        Delight is the emotion connected with the New Testament. God is con­tinually working with us seeking to bring us to the pleasure of His light and radiance. We are told to be joyful always (1 Thessalonians 5:16). It is by obedience, service and faithfulness that we enter into the delight of our salvation .•