AC 6144 - famine: the last of desolation and temptation is despair

AC 6144
There are many reasons
why despair is the last of desolation and of temptation . . ..
Despair causes those who feel it
to acknowledge in an effectual and feeling manner
that there is nothing of truth and good from themselves,
and that from themselves they are condemned;
but that they are delivered from condemnation by the Lord;
and that salvation flows in by means of truth and good.
Despair also causes them to feel
the happiness of life which is from the Lord;
for when they come out of that state,
they are like those who have been condemned to death,
and are set free from prison.
Moreover by means of desolations and temptations,
states contrary to heavenly life are felt,
the result of which
is the implantation of a sense and perception
of the satisfaction and happiness of heavenly life;
for a sense and perception of what is satisfying and happy
is impossible without comparison with the opposites.
To the end therefore that full comparisons may be made,
desolations and temptations are brought to their utmost,
that is, to despair.