Obedience and Life vs. Despair and Death

Obedience vs. despair.  Life vs. death.  This is ultimately the lesson of our lives.  When it's just too hard to go on, you must die to yourself and your own answers, your own paths, your own dreams and seek Him even in the darkness.  I think this is part of what fasting is all about.  You are setting aside a real felt desire to seek Him.  Every time you feel that desire, you must seek Him to overcome the temptation.