Loss, pain, loneliness, hopelessness, betrayal.
Tears. Cries.
Desperate!
Been there. Done that. Did not like it!
When life—the things, the people, the needs—is out of control…when I can’t make things happen the way I want…when it goes on and on…when there is much pain and little hope…desperation takes over.
Our friend King David understood. Hear his cry of desperation in Psalm 142:
I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble….
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life….
Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need…
God welcomes our cries. He knows life in this fallen world is difficult, painful, desperate.
When I am desperate, I eventually:
*Fall on my face before God, usually literally.
I pour out my desperation, I cry out to Him, I admit my hurt, my disappointment, my fear, my frustration, my anger. I tell him once again that my life is not the way I want it.
*Say “Thank You, Lord.”
Not for my desperation, but in my desperation. Thus, acknowledging that I know and believe that He is God and He is good.
*Open my hands.
Often that means literally making a fist—holding tight to my wants and desires, my hopes and fears, my pain and hopelessness—and then one by one prying my fingers open so God can take out what He wants and put in His very good for me.
*Rest in Him.
Sometimes the release and relief are immediate. Other times it takes time. But the leaning into Him and experiencing His comfort and peace produce healing and hope and rest.
David recognized that only the Lord could free him from his desperate place:
I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
I can gain comfort and encouragement from family, friends, books, counselors…. But when I am desperate, there is truly only one place to find deliverance: the God who loves me and promises to care for me.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all… (Psalm 34:17-19)
What about you? Are you desperate yet?
C2012 Judy Douglass
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Judy, this is excellent.
“I can gain comfort and encouragement from family, friends, books, counselors…. But when I am desperate, there is truly only one place to find deliverance: the God who loves me and promises to care for me.” <– so true!
Yes, He is the only one. Grateful He often uses people.
I am.
I’m with you, Maggie.
Yet? You are kidding, right :).
The unclenching image reminded me of a quote…
Unclench your fists. Hold out your hands. Take mine. Let us hold onto each other. This is His glory manifest. Madeleine L’Engle
Clenched fists cannot receive anything…neither can a closed heart.
Happy Friday, all.
You have it right, Beth.
Judy, you will never, ever know how much I needed this today. I literally did have to fall on my face before God and express to Him my hurt, my fear, my desperation, my anger. All the emotions that you mentioned were what I have been dealing with since the election. You helped to bring me back to the truth that God is God and that He is good all the time. You gave me the tools I needed to walk through this in peace. The tools of fall on my face before Him, thanking Him, opening my clenched fist to let go of all of my fears, anger, frustration, hurt and unbelievable disappointment. and then resting in Him. Bless you Judy for being a vessel whom God speaks through.
Wow, Susan. So grateful!