Motivation Series: A Desperate Place
Desperation:
a state of despair, typically one which results in rash or extreme behaviour.
We have all experienced being in a state of complete desperation. It occurs when there is a scarcity or unavailability for what we need and we would give up almost anything just to get that which we need or desire. It could be finances to feed your family or pay the bills. It could be grades to advance to the next stage of education. It could be extra time to complete a task or assignment, a life partner that you think you need in order to feel complete and whole, the fruit of the womb. It could be healing for ourselves or a loved one. We all have that one thing that we could give up the whole world for. But how far is too far when it come to giving something up when you find yourself in a desperate place?
In Genesis 25:29-34 we see Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac, who is the son of Abraham to whom God promised that he would be a father of many nations, to whom He will give this land to his descendants, for his sake God caused a terrible plague upon pharaoh and placed generational blessings and covenants upon Abraham. Imagine being birthed into a name with such blessings. In this passage we see Esau in a place of complete desperation. He had come back from the wilderness and felt like he was nearly at his point of death and begged his brother for food. In return Jacob asked him to sell his birth right to him and so he agreed, because he did not think of the magnitude of what he was selling away in comparison for the small comfort he was getting from what he would be receiving in return. He gave away his birth right as the first born son. He did not realise what was really at stake. The power, the wealth and the nations that are tied to that birthright. He forgot whom’s son and grandson he was and sold something that cannot be bought back.
This bears the question: to what extent are you willing to compromise your God-given identity to obtain the things of the world. How far are you willing to move away from Christ to get closer to your earthly goals, needs and desires. The bible gave us one clear instruction that we should remember whenever we find ourselves in a desperate place, where we feel as though there is no way out and we have reached a dead end.
Christ taught us to remember this:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV
Whenever you feel as though you cannot provide that which you need for yourself, trust in God. The provider, the way maker, the creator of all that there is, was and ever is to come. He sees you, and He hears, and He feels your pain. Transform your desperate place into a worship place, into a point of communication to the Lord. Surrender that place to Him and let Him descend His power, His will, His provision, His comfort, His heeling, whatever you need Him to be and more. He literally calls Himself “the I am that I am” because, He is who you need Him to be at all times. If you need a provider, that is who He will be – Jehovah Jireh. If you need a healer, that is who He will be – Jehovah-Rapha If you need peace, that is who He will be – Jehovah Shalom. Call Him by His name. His power is infinite,His name is excellent and His powers are endless. So do not be afraid and do not let fear push you into a place of desperation. Let fear propel you into faith.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
The opposite of fear is faith.
Replace your fear with faith, which can only be through the power of God from which comes love and a sound mind. When you have a sound mind you cannot operate in desperation as desperation by dictionary definition literally leads to making “rash decisions”. Instead the bible tells us to “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””
Matthew 26:41 NKJV
When you find yourself in a desperate place, what is your prayer life looking like at that time? Often times we can be so consumed by our worries and struggles that we forget to create time to pray. We have not given God the space to move and be God. We often treat God as a last resort to problems that have become too big for us to bear. Thus, we go around exhausting ourselves, our resources and even the people around us for a problem God can give us clear instructions, wisdom and power to overcome.
How do you speak over yourself and your situation when you find yourself in a desperate place?
Do you speak like someone who is desperate and is despair like Esau did, which allowed his own brother to take advantage of his weakness? Or do you speak like someone who knows they have got the authority of heaven on their tongue like Daniel in the lions den (Daniel 6) or the woman with the issue of blood who put all her faith in Christ and received her healing (Matt chapter 9).
Putting your faith in God during troubling times does not mean that you should not ask for help from others when you need it or undermine the situation you are in. God even encourages and commands us to pray for one another, help one another when we are in need as we are serving Christ in doing so. ““And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’”
Matthew 25:45 NLT
However, there comes a point in your spiritual journey and in your relationship in Christ where you put your faith to the test and start commanding mountains that are in your way to move and not climb around them. There comes a time where you start to exercise the power God has placed in your tongue over your life. Sometimes the miracles that you are looking to God for comes from when you start the command the miracle to take place through your own mouth. The world and new age religions call it “manifesting” but the children of the most high call it prophesying, proclaiming, decreeing, declaring and commanding. It is from a place of desperation that we feel the pull and the demand for our anointing in our own lives or of those close to us. Your place of desperation is not a place of despair, it is rather a battle field in which there can only be on person to make it out in one piece. It’s either you or troubles. It’s either you or your doubt. It’s either you or your generational curse. It’s either you or your depression. But guess what? You are not on the battle field by yourself. Psalm 91 tells us to “dwell” in Him and “call” on Him and The Lord will protect you (read full chapter). “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;”
Psalms 91:9-10 NKJV
This is as a result of you exercising faith and giving God the room to be God in your life.
Look at when David fought Goliath. His victory did not come from his own strength but by the power of God who had led him to that battle, consequently leading to David ruling as king. You don’t know what God is setting you up for in the midst of your battle. Don’t give up and throw in the towel. God is in middle of writing your story.
Summary:
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
Psalms 5:11-12 NKJV
Prayer:
Gracious Father,
I thank You for Your unfailing love, mercy and Your grace. I pray for a faith that is unshaken, boldness and power to overcome everything that might have put me in a desperate place. Lord the battle is no longer mine, but Yours. Come and have the victory.
Continue to teach me how to walk in Christ.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen!
Comments