Driven By Desperation

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Has there been a season of your life where you have felt desperate, hopeless?  The King James Version Dictionary defines desperate as a giving up of hope or hopelessness.  When driven by desperation, people tend to run to God or run from God.  What will you choose to do? 

Scripture reveals several examples of people driven by desperation.  They had lost hope and knew that Jesus was the only answer to their desperate need.  We must realize when we are driven by desperation that Jesus Christ is the only answer.  He is the only One who can give us hope, comfort, peace, and healing – whether it is spiritual healing or physical healing. 

In Matthew 9, we notice a man who is driven by desperation.  His daughter had died and he believed that Jesus could bring her back to life.  He believed the healing touch of Jesus could bring his daughter back from death.  This man was a synagogue leader.  He was educated, religious, and well respected.  His education, religion, and his status could not help him in his desperation.  The synagogue leader knew he had to approach Jesus with his desperate need.  Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25 – A synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died.  But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”  Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.  When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away.  The girl is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him.  After the crowd had been out outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 

The synagogue leader did not come to Jesus until his daughter was dead.  It was too late for anyone else to help.  Jesus Christ can make a difference when it seems too late for anyone else to help.  If you are driven by desperation and your situation and circumstances look hopeless, know that Christ can do the impossible.  Luke 19:27 – Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  This father knew the touch of Jesus changes things.  “But come and put your hands on her and she will live.”  Choose today to be like this father.  Allow your season of desperation to drive you to Jesus Christ. 

In Mark 2, we read of four men desperate to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus.  Because of the large crowd gathered around Jesus, the men could not enter the home where He was teaching.  These friends were determined to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing, so they took him to the roof of the home and lowered him to where Jesus was teaching.  Mark 2:3-4 – Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  Can you just imagine being in the home watching as a man on a mat is lowered from the roof into Jesus’ presence?  These four men believed that Jesus could heal their paralyzed friend.  They were desperate to get him into the presence of Christ.  Their desperation led them to Jesus and because of their faith, the paralyzed man was healed by Jesus Christ.  Mark 2:5, 11-12 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.  I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.  This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Desperation is irrespective of title, position, or social standing.  When your season of desperation comes, let it drive you to Jesus. 

Dear Heavenly Father, when we are faced with hopelessness I pray that we will seek You.  Help our faith in You be strong no matter the situation or circumstance.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.