TODAY’S
WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 18, 2013.
DESPERATION
DEFINITION:
The
state of being desperate; having the recklessness of despair; loss of hope; a
source of hopelessness.
SCRIPTURE:
We
were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of
life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened
that we might not rely on ourselves but on God. II Corinthians 1:8-9.
KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE:
Have
you ever felt as desperate as the above scripture says? Paul had endured many
hardships in his life, and although he does not give us a lot of details, he
does indicate that he and his companions felt they were going to die. Paul goes
on to say that because they were helpless to help themselves they had to rely
on God.
Sometimes
we have to come to the point of desperation before we realize our need to
completely trust in God. We have talked to a lot of desperate people in our
lifetime. For some it has been facing a desperate situation in their marriage.
For others it has been a desperate situation with a child. Possibly you face a
desperate health situation or financial crises?
The
desperations that have concerned us the most involving family life is twofold.
First, we have seen so many times parents who are facing desperation because of
the actions of their children. Parenting is very difficult in today's society.
Many times problems with children develop when parents have not developed a
lifestyle that honors God in their homes and have not been godly role models for
their children to watch as they were growing up. Children must be taught from
God's Word how to honor God, and how to honor their parents.
But
we also have seen great desperation from what we consider wonderful Christian
parents who ask us -- WHY? Their children have made choices in their lives that
are the opposite of the way they were raised. We have only one answer for one
facing that situation and that is to pray for that child, continue to love that
child and continue to live your consistent Christian life. We must then let go
and let God do His thing. And He will do it in his perfect timing.
We
have witnessed unbelievable desperation in third world countries. We have seen
mothers crying because they have no food, milk or medicine for their dying
child that they were holding in their arms. We have seen families with no
housing, no food and seemingly no one to help because the father has died or
left the home. We have seen children orphaned because both parents have died of
AIDS. They ask: What should we do? Where do we go? Who really cares for me?
This is desperation.
Henry
David Thoreau said: "Most people live today lives of great
desperation." The feeling of desperation is often the result of choices
one makes in life --- even years earlier. For others desperation comes due to
situations that arise because of the location of where they were born and/or
the culture they are in, the wars they have to face, poverty, persecution and
other serious problems that a child, young person or adult has no control over.
But
there is a solution for a person that is facing a desperate situation in life.
The scripture says that we are to "cast all of our cares upon the Lord
because He cares for you." You might respond by saying or thinking that is
easy for us to say. We do not understand how bad the situation is.
Let
us tell you and assure you that no situation is too hard for God to overcome.
It is our lack of faith that causes us to doubt what God wants to do for us.
When desperate situations get us down, the only way to look is up. God is
waiting for you to bring your desperation to Him.
LEARNING:
Our
memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5.
For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
PRAYER:
Dear
Lord, thank You for giving me the promise through Your Word that when I am
feeling desperate and feel that no one cares for me, you are their waiting for
me. All I have to do is to cast my care (desperation) upon You and You will
care for me. Help me today to grasp what You say and give me the faith to
accept that You are caring for me even when I am feeling total despair.
